A FATAL FIRE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17688, 28 July 1919, Page 6

A FATAL FIRE.

OUTBREAK IN A« BOARDING-j HOUSE. ONE MAN SUFFOCATED. ANOTHER SERIOUSLY BURNED. NARROW ESCAPE OF SNMATES. In the early hours of yesterday morning a firo broke out in a boarding-houso in Cargill street, resulting in the death of on© man from suffocation, and in tho serious injury of another throdgh burns. ■ About 2 a.m. Constable Aitohison noticed ,a, considerable volume of smoke issuing from No. 26 CargiU street, a 13-roomed two-storey house owned and occupied by Mrs Barry, who uses tho premises as a •bparckng-house. Ho at onoo gave the alarm, and when the brigade arrived on the aceno tho fire had a fairly strong hold, the front bedrooma and the wholo of the top flat being ablaze. Within a very short space of timo the brigade had two efcreams of water playing on tho buildin°and under the good pressure of water the tire was soon extinguished. In addition to the members of the family there wero J.U or 12 boarders in the house at the time of the outbreak. Most of the inmates, including three women and a child ceeded in escaping to the street in' their Bight attire. When tho firemen entered the building niter tho flames had been subdued they found a man named John Docherty in a back bedroom on the top flat. He was lynpg on the floor in an unconscious condition, and was suffering from severe burns to the head, neck, and back. Ho was removed from the building and was examined by Dr Evans, who ordered his removal to the Hospital Docherty, who is believed to bo a einglo man, was formerly employed as a fireman on board the Mαrama. Several of the inmates stated that he was -warned m ample time, but apparently returned to the room for his money, and in trying to get out again missed tho stairs and got into a back room some distance away. The Hospital authorities reported last evening that his condition was serious A few nrinutes after finding Docherty tho firemen came upon tho body of a man named Duncan Macdonnell, who was huddled up in a corner of a bedroom on the top flat. He had evidently attempted to escape from the room, but had taken the 'wrong direction, acd had been overcome by smoke and heat. When found ha was very badly burned and quite dead. Hewas a wharf labourer by occupation and a single man about 50 years of age. His body -was removed to the Morgue, where an inquest -will .be held to-day. The building -was a high one and as it etoo3 on sloping ground the height at the back was equal to three storeys. One elderly man was fortunate enough to escape by means of a rope tied to the leg of the bed. Although the establishment was a licensed boarding-house we understand that there was practically nd provision in.the way of fire-escapes. -The Fire Brigade effected, a remarkably good save, only the upstairs of the structure and the contents suffering serious damage. The bottom flat was left practically intact. There was nothing to show how the fire originated Tho houso was insured in -the Standard Office for £750, and the contents with the Atlas Company for £275. Mrs Kinneburgh, a daughter of the proprietress, resided on the premises, and her furniture end effects were insured for £50 in the Standard Office.