HOTEL IN FLAMES

Otago Witness, Issue 4028, 26 May 1931, Page 74

HOTEL IN FLAMES

A SPECTACULAR BLAZE HAZARDOUS RESCUE WORK. WELLINGTON, May 21. The Panama Hotel, at the corner of Taranaki and Vivian streets, a twostoreyed wooden building, was totally destroyed by fire, which was discovered about 3 o’clock this morning. When the brigade arrived the building was totally enveloped in flames. Six people were removed to hospital suffering from burns or the effects of smoke. Mrs H. Hyde was rescued just in the nick of time from the parapet between the two floors. Those injured were:— Karl Kraus, badly burned, condition serious. Miss Margaret Park, severely burned about the face and hands, and suffering from shock. George Michael Skone, Harry Hyde, John Joseph Crowley and Miss R. Jones (who was cook at the hotel), burns and smoke effects. Mr Hyde died at 3 p.m. Two firemen .(J. De Winter and C. Flashoff) were slightly burned, but were ' able to carry on. Police Constable J. Edwards, of Mount Cook Station, was burned about the hands, and was treated by the free ambulance. A strong north-west wind was blowing, and carried the flames to the adjoining buildings on both sides of the street, the brigade being called upon to deal with several small outbreaks at the same time. A two-storeyed wooden building adjoining, in Taranaki street, used as a Chinese laundry, was also destroyed. Practically nothing was saved from either this building or the hotel. When the brigade arrived there was no hope of saving the building, from every window and door of which flames were issuing. The fire engines and the big ladder were rushed to the scene. On the arrival of the first engine the licensee’s wife, Mrs Hyde, was seen on the parapet between the floors, -surrounded by flames and smoke. She did not respond to the crowd’s cries to jump, but wisely waited for the ladder. The task of getting her safely to the ground was attended by considerable risk to the I firemen, and the ladder was showing ; signs of hatching fire by the time the rescue was effected. Several occupants of the hotel are stated to have leaped to safety. It is believed that the fire started in the ground floor, and had a strong hold ' before it was discovered, cutting off escape by the stairs. Interviewed this afternoon in hospital, Messrs Crowley and Skone agreed that it was only the patent alarm that saved them. Ten minutes after they left the building it was a raging inferno. It was incredible how the firre swept through the place. Mr Crowley said he was the last to be awakFned, and by that time his bed was on fire. Messrs Hyde and Skone and Miss Park got down by the fire escape. Mr M‘Gee, the barmanporter, lowered himself down the wall, and Mr Kraus and Miss Jones jumped. A boarder, Mr Harry Brady, escaped without injury. Crowley is the boxer who beat Jones at Te Awamutu on Monday. He lost his purse and numerous trophies. The building was a very old one of 16 rooms. The insurance totalled £3250.