'■1 FRIGHTFUL EXPERIENCEIN A BUSH FIRE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2810, 22 January 1908, Page 18

'■ 1 FRIGHTFUL EXPERIENCE IN A BUSH FIRE.

{JHKISTCHUrtCH, January 15. > While the fire on iKe Cashmere 'OHills • was at its .height ta-d3y a terrible expe'rir. ence' befel Mr William Moon, the carel .taker. oti.iV'iot'Oria j^ferk. He was one 1 of i the most* ene?geti6> of. ! the workers 'who : were fighting the -flames,' and apparently ) one of the most venturesome. - He seems ; to have, . detached ' himself from the main , •> body -of the workers and advanced alone, s into a gully to 'extinguish the fire among- , some large " tussocks. While* he was thus_ i engaged -,the fire crept past 'him on either" side, and before he , wafe -aware of it he was ; surrounded by a seething' and quickly- . advancing mass of flame. He made a ' -"dash for safety, -but before be had . gone i more than 1 a' few -yards his 'clothes -were i ,on fire and" he was 'practically unable .to , move".' He was then .seen, by a 'young i man named ' Bright, , gesticulating- .'" and - calling desperately to a crowd of" workers . who were engaged on the east side of the : fire. The roar of the flames and tho strong wind blowing against ' him must have prevented his cries being heard. ■ As soon as Bright was aware of Moon's terrible predicament he called to a young map, and together they dashed to hie assistance. Moon, when they reached him, was in a shocking condition, but quite conscious. . All his clothing, with the exception of his boots and an undershirt,- had been , burned ] off , '.and he was frightfully injured. Bright and his assistant carried him 'to the school buildings, where first aid -was rendered by a .constable and residents of the locality. An express was secured and Moon was sent to the hospital, but/ he is not expected to live.