THE FATAL. FIRE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 54, 1 February 1884, Page 2

THE FATAL. FIRE.

I I^ater Particulars. (by telegraph.) (united press association.) Auckland, January iso. Further particulars are to hand re the fire at the Kaipara Hotel (McLenDan's), in which John Hania, the cook, and his assistant, Mooney, were burnt to death. The fire broke out at 10 o'clock last night. The two men had retired to resc in an upstairs bedroom over the kitchen, and it is Relieved the fire originated there. It was impossible to get into the room, and the greatest haste was made with a view to save a few articles of furniture and wearing apparel. It did not enter any one's head while saving these articles that two human beings were being burnt to death in «heir beds, but suddenly a cry was raised, " Where is Jack Harris;. the. cook ■?" Frantic cries were raised, as Harris was seldom known to leave the premises, and though he had not been seen, it. was thought he might be at hand. No response, however, was made, and the neighborhood was searched, but no one had seen Harris, and in fact at this time most people were engaged endeavoring to prevent the flames spreading to McLeod's stores and other buildings, or in trying to get the goods, &c, out of the place. The commotion at this time was heightened by McLeod's stores bursting into flames, and also by loud shouts of " Where is Mooney ?" As kerosene oil and other inflammable material in McLeod's warehouse began to burn, the flames shot upwards, casting an angry glare over, the western sky, which led to the Auckland firebells being rung and the engines being got out though forty miles distant. While the flames were at their highest a tremendous explosion' took place in the s< ore, lifting the blazing woodwork and redhot'' sheets of galvanised iron high up in the air, and, • jast as the effects of this startling pyrotechnic display had ceased, Constable Naughton dragged forth from the burning pile ot the hotel a portion of the body of Harris, the cook. Numbers of the residents fought with the fire, and endeavoured to stay its further progress, as well as to save all that was possible of the splendid stock of Messrs McLeod, but unfortunately a large quantity was stored in cellars, and, with much in the main building, this was lost. It was evident that unless a butcher's shop adjoining the stores of Messrs McLeod was quickly pulled down another block of buildings would be burnad. By the efforts "of those present the blacksmith's shop was saved, also a baker's shop and two private residences. The a,tp,bles opposite the hotel next ignited, and it was evident if they were burned that the Public Hall and Mr James McLeod's private residence would be destroyed. .Fortunately the fire was arrested, Harris was a single man, aged forty-five, and was well known in the timber trade. John Mooney was a stranger in the district, anxl is believed to have . been single,