FATAL FIRE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1089, 4 January 1912, Page 3

FATAL FIRE.

Shortly after half-past 1 o’clock yesterday morning a fire was discovered in a house iu Taranaki Street, Wellington, nearly opposite the Wesleyan Church. An old man, John Calvert, was burned to death, his charred remains being discovered in one of the upstairs rooms wheu the flames had been subdued.

Another man, Percy McKean, was so badly burned about the body that he had to be removed to the hospital, where he lays in a very serious condition. The house, No. 78, contained leu rooms. It was owned by Mrs Heard, and was occupied by Mr and Mrs James Scott.

It appeared that before Mrs Scott went to bed she left a quantity of linen airing before a fire in the (..ining-room. All then appeared quite safe, but at about 1.30 this morning Mrs Scott was awakened by smoke, and found the linen all in a blaze. She at once rushed out into the street and gave the alarm.

The brigade was soon in attendance, but weie not able to .event the place being practically gutted. Soon after the fire got a good hold a man named Percy McEean, a lodger in the house, was observed to struggle out of the window of the upstairs room in which he was sleeping. His night clothing was all ablaze. By some means he clambered down the side of the house, and, as soon as he reached the ground, he collapsed. On being picked up he was found to be very badly burned about the head and body. He was carried across to the Terminus Hotel, where restoratives were applied. Dr. Gilmer, who <Vas hurriedly sent for, ordered his immediate removal to the hospital. By this time a large crowd had assembled in the street, arid the flames had spread to the adjoining house, number 76, owned-’by Mrs Mercer.

The police were then inlormed that a man named John Calvert, another lodger al number 78, was missing. He occupied one of the upstair rooms, but at first it was not known whether he slept there last night or not. A search was made by the brigadesmen as soon as passible, and his charred remains were found lying in the room, from which he had been unable lo escape. The remains were not removed until the crowd bad dispersed. Calvert was about 54 years of age, and was a newspaper runner by occupation. He was a familiar figure at the Terminus Hotel corner, that being his daily stand. The adjoining house, number 76, caught fire at the rear, and some damage was done before the flames-were subdued.

The furniture in number 78 was insured for .£175. The insurances on the buildings weie not known this morning.