FIRE IN MOLESWORTH-STREET.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5196, 16 November 1877, Page 3

FIRE IN MOLESWORTH-STREET.

LOSS OF SIX LIVES. What promised to be a very serious conflagration occurred on the morning of Oct. 22. At 3 o’clock the firebells gave the alarm, and on proceeding to the scene we found that a building contiguous to the Princess’ Hotel was completely in possession of the flames, which had also caught the rear of Mr. Cattell’s private house. In but a short while this building also was a seething mass of flame, and tire houses adjoining were attacked. Any faint hopes that might have been entertained that the catastrophe was not so seiious as had been at first stated were dispelled, and the lamentable fact remains that Mrs. William Johnson and five children have perished. The first alarm of the fire, which seems to have originated in the upper part of the cottage occupied by Mrs. Johnson and family, was given apparently by several persons at about the same time; and one of the most melancholy incidents of the whole affair is that there can be very little doubt, if an abundant and immediate supply of water had been at hand, the fire would have been more quickly-got under, although it seems doubtful whether the unfortunate victims who met their deaths could have been saved. The Eire Brigade and Police lost no time in hurrying to the scene of action, and ■were on the spot shortly after the alai-m----bells commenced, ringing, and did efficient service in stopping the further progress of the fire as soon as a supply of water was obtained; but a considerable time elapsed before it was obtained. Who is to blame in this matter we are not at present aware, but a searching inquiry will no doubt be ’ made into this as well as into all other circumstances connected with the case. The fact remains that at the moment a supply of water was most urgently needed it was not forthcoming, although we are assured that the present supply in the reservoir is amply sufficient for the purpose. The fire, originating at Mrs. Johnson’s, quickly spread to the adjoining tenement, in the occupation of Mr. Farnal], to Mr. Cattell’s residence, fronting Molesworfch-street, and to the rear of the Princess Hotel, at the junction of that street and Murphy-street. Shortly after the alarm was given a ladder was placed against the outer wall of Sirs. Johnson’s cottage, and a gallant attempt was made to effect an entry and rescue the occupants. Mr. Cattell got on to the ladder and broke open one •£ the upstairs windows, but was met by such an intense rush of flame and smoke issuing through the aperture as effectually drove him back, and he fell to the ground, sustaining some injury. His partner, Mr. Diamond, also made an attempt, but was driven back from the same cause, and he too was considerably hurt. The cottage - where the fire broke out, as well as Mr. FaruaU’s and Mr. Cattell’s and Mr. Yates’ premises were destroyed, and also the stables and outbuildings of the Princess Hotel. The main building of the hotel itself escaped, but was for some time in very great danger, and owing to the hurried removal of the furniture in anticipation of the speedy destruction of the whole fabric, a considerable loss will be sustained. After an anxious waiting of threequarters of an hour, a full supply of water was obtained, and after that the further progress of the fire was arrested. Mr. Marohaut, the Waterworks Engineer, who is corroborated by Mr. Ward, the turncock (and who were on the spot soon after the fire broke out), states that at the time of the first alarm being given the water had been turned on in full force, and should therefore have been at full pressure as soon as if not before the brigades arrived; but such was certainly not the case. When the fire was got under a search was made for the bodies supposed to have been burned, and the charred remains of an adult and five children —no doubt those of poor Mrs. Johnson and family—were discovered.-One of these sad relics of humanity was apparently that of an infant in its mother’s arms. These remains were conveyed to the Morgue, where they lie awaiting a coroner’s inquest, which will be heldto-day. Overtheharrowingscene presented at the fire it is needless to Huger, and as to its origin, so far as we have been able to ascertain, there is no evidence, but it is presumed to bo purely accidental. That it arose in the upper room of Mrs. Johnson’s house there is very little doubt, and as she is said to have been in the habit of burning a lamp in the bedroom where she and her children slept, it seems not improbable that by some accident it might have been overturned and thus caused the catastrophe. Mr. Cattell estimates his loss at some £llOO over and above the amount for which lie is insured. There was an insurance of £IOOO in the Victoria on four houses, £2OO in the South British on Mr. Yates’ house, £IOO in the Xew Zealand on Mr. Cattell’s furniture. The hotel, stock, and furniture were also insured, and on these the loss, though .considerable, is comparatively trifling in amount. Yesterday a very large number of persons were attracted to the scene of the fire, and went over the ruins of the demolished houses, many of them minutely inspecting the debris, and anxious particularly to lie shown the spot where the poor widow and children had met their deaths. Of the many sad accidents which have occurred lately this is one of the most melancholy. INQUEST ON THE REMAINS OF MRS. JOHNSON • AND FIVE CHILDREN. An inquest was held at the Morgue on Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock, relative to the death of Louisa, Frederick, Henry, Frank, Amy, and Jessie Johnson, who lost their lives by the fire on Tuesday morning in Murphystreet. The following are the names of the jury : J. E. Coker (foreman), T. Bould, \V. D. Nioholls, S. Taylor, W. J. Foster, It, Appleton, James Kersley, K. Tuckwell, J. Staples, J. Macdonald, T. Pope, 11. E. Easby, and W. Archer. Mr! Boardman was present to watch the case on behalf of the South British Insurance Company. Dr. Johnston (the coroner) said that during the many years lie had been presiding overcourts ofloqniry into fatal occurrences he had never prosified over one under which the circum dances wore more deplorable, from the fact that a whole family had been swept away—a family which was on both sides connected with the earliest settlers of the province. The grandmother of the children was left, and those who were acquainted with the family would know that her whole life seemed to have been devoted to the children. He did not think there would be evidence forthcoming to show how the fire really originated ; but he hoped the inquiry would lead to results which would contribute to action being taken to prevent the progress of conflagrations in future. He had received a communication from the Mayor, asking that the investigation might extend, if desirable, into the circumstances of the failure in the water supply, and he (Dr. Johnstou) would be willing to take evidence on that point if the jury were desirous of further information.

The jury having signified their desire that the inquiry should extend to the causes which led to the want of water during the first part of the fire, Dr. Johnston read the. following letter from the Mayor *. —

“Sir,— lf there is to be an inquest into the origin of the calamitous fire of Tuesday morning, I am sure it would be satisfactory to the public, as well as a favor to the City Council and myself, to extend the inquiry so as to embrace the cause of the defective water supply on the occasion. Would you oblige me with a note on the subject, as I should request

the Corporation officials connected with the Waterworks to be in attendance, provided you see your way to investigate the matter on this particular point.” The first witness called was George Bolton, brother of the late Mrs. Johnston, who deposed that the deceased was a widow with five children. He last saw her on. Sunday morning at half-past 11. Deceased, did not appear to be very wall. He thought she was rather low-spirited. She was despondent at times. His mother and sister were in company with deceased on Monday night. He was aroused by the firebell about 3 o’clock. By the time he arrived at the scene of the fire ho found the upper part of his sister’s house in flames. She was accustomed to keep a light at night—a small float in an iron basin. He tried to get into the house, but could nut do so, as it was full of flames. He saw none of the inmates and heard vo cry. He believed at the time that the inmates had got out safely. When the Are had almost burnt itself out a search was made by the fire brigades, and thebodies were found among the ashes of the house. The witness desired to remark, in reference to what had appeared in an evening paper, that there was no kerosene lamp kept in the house.

Edwin Jeffreys, coal-merchant, residing in Murphy-street, stated that on the morning of the fire he was aroused by Mr. Header Wood, and immediately saw the reflection of the fire in his bedroom. He found that the !i‘\; was opposite his place. Witness and his .<■ n were the first on the spot. The whole front <>f the house seemed on 6re, flames issuing from the door and windows. He saw none of the inmates. He immediately burst in the backdoor, but he could not enter the house on account of the flames, which rushed towards him. All this time he heard no cry. Witness was first under the impression that,the inmates had got out; but when he found the doors fastened he thought they were stiff in the house. There was no chance of getting near them, although he was about the first to arrive. The heat of the fire was so great as to threaten his own house, and he went away to protect it. The Eire Brigades arrived in about teu minutes or a quarter of an hour after the first alarm. There was no water in the pipes, and it was nearly an hour before there was a supply, and the firemen during that time were powerless to subdue the flames. The fire could have been stopped at the first house had there been a supply of water. He did not think that even if the water had been on any lives would have been saved.

Lewis Moss, Captain of the Central Fire Brigade, stated that the alarm was given at the station before the bells rang by the watchman on the wharf.. When he arrived the fire was confined to one house. One hydrant had been fixed and the hose out before witness arrived, but there was no water. He knew the water was cut off at night, and remarked that it would be through presently. He began to feel alarmed at the delay, and ordered out two more branches, so as to use the water effectively when it came. The fire had by this time spread, and had caught the next building and also the back part of Mr.GatteU’s private house in Molesworth-street. He went down Murphy-street about eighty yards, and fixed another hose, but again without effect. The brigade was there about three-quarters of an hour before the water came. It came then with very slight force, and he bad to reduce the number of branches to two. About that time he was informed that there was a family living in the house which had first caught fire, and had not been seen. The house was then quite down, the fire at that spot having burnt itself out. The water kept increasing in force, but they never got a full pressure. The Corporation watchman was present at the fire, and he stated to witness that he had turned the water on at the first alarm. All the bodies were found at about half-past four. In reply to a question, Captain Moss stated that he regarded turning off the water at night as a very bad practice. He endorsed the opinion of the previous witness, that had the water been on the fire would have been confined to one building. His individual opinion was, that the delay in the water was caused by the air in the pipes.

A Juror said : How was it that numbers of Thorndou people .did not hear the bells ring ? In Tnrnbnll-street, there was only one resident who heard the alarm.

Captain Moss replied that the Torndon firebell was considerably larger than any other in. the city ; but he believed it was boxed in too much. However 'he believed steps would soon be taken to have this, remedied.

Nicholas Marchant (waterworks. engineer), stated that he was present at the fire before the water was on with any force. It was coming through the hose in small driblets, not throwing a higher elevation than from ten to fifteen feet. Comparatively speaking, that was no water for a fire. The pressure after his • arrival slowly increased, and ultimately was sufficient to save the Princess Hotel and other houses. Witness was astonished at the failure in the pressure. At the time the fire broke out there was a depth of seventeen or eighteen feet in the reservoir ; four feet more than on the occasion of the fire at the Empire Hotel. On his way to the fire, he tested the pipes along Willis-street and Lambtou-quay, and found the full pressure on. However, he had misgivings when he saw the absence of black smoke from the fire, as that would tell that water was not being used iu large quantities. At Brandon’s corner and Barrett’s corner, he found that absolutely no water was passing. Even the small quantity that was first used at the fire did not come from the main down Willis-street and Lambtou, but from the pipes carried round the Terrace, and which supplies the Government Buildings. The consequence would be that instead of the usual elevation of 300 ft. there would only be 170 ft., and the pressure would be diminished from 901’is. to to 301 b. or 401 b. He had no doubt that there was an obstacle to the passage of the water iu the main between Brandon’s and Barrett’s corners. He examined into the c inse of this, and found at the reservoir that the whole of the copper gauze used as a strainer had been carried down the pipes, and, lie believed, got jammed in the main between the places he referred to. The gauze w 4? very fine, with between 800 or 400 holes to the square inch. Past Brandon’s corner the wrter main diminishes in size, and the gauze had got jammed. He believed it had assumed a funnel shape, and every time the water was put <m it struck the gauze with such force that it drove it further along the water main. The gauze is now somewhere between Barrett’s and the railway station.- He explained the reason that the supply was not cut off at the railway station and neighborhood by the fact that the mains reticulated, and a supply would thereby be obtained from another source than the main down Lamhton-quay. He did not think it dangerous to cut the water off at night. After an alarm the water when turned on would reach any part of the city within three or four minutes, some time before the fire brigades could possibly arrive and get into working order. He found that there was a great deal of water wasted at night. When it was considered that there were several thousand attachments to the mains it would - seen that carelessness on the pnrt of a .sn.„il proportion of consumers would sensibly diminish the supply of water. An ordinary sized attachment pipe would carry one thousand gallons of water per hour. The other night by testing the pipes along one of the streets he found that there was a large consumption about a particular spot of the street, and on proceeding into the premises of the Messrs. Gear, butchers, ho found two taps fully turned on. The water was simply allowed to run away for hours. There was no one present, and the water was not being used for any purpose. That was only one instance of many cases of great carelessness.

The Coroner thou stated that he did. not deem it necessary to call auy more witnesses. The jury returned the following verdict:— “ The deceased came by their death at a fire which occurred in Murphy-street, but how or by what means thosaid fire originated there is no evidence to show.” The following rider was attached:—“ It is the opinion of this jury that the failure in the supply of water in this case was caused by insufficient protection at the opening of the main from the distributing reservoir, and they think that a searching investigation into the matter should bo instituted by the City Council*”