FIRE IN CARLYLE.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 451, 9 August 1879, Page 2

FIRE IN CARLYLE.

A.BOIJT half-past, two o’clock on Thursday morning, Mr John Whelan was awakened by the falling of something heavy in his back kitchen, and on going ont to see the cause, found that the room was completely in a blaze. After seeing to the

safety of the children, Mrs Whelan proceeded to give the alarm, whilst Mr Whelan commenced to remove some of the stock from the shop; hut thinking that possibly there might be a chance of saving the house, he desisted, and proceeded to the back, where there happened to he a large tank of water, which he made good use of in throwing on the top of the building, in the meantime, a good many neighbors had arrived, ami at once bet to work to subdue the flam as. Although the back kitchen and diningroom were full of smoko, yet volunteers in the persons of Messrs Sam Dixon, W. Colson, and G. Beamish, willingly rushed in, and, by groat exertion, succeeded in extinguishing the lire—but not before it had done a considerable amount of damage. It is almost a miracle, looking at the inside of the house after the fire was put out, how the building was saved ; and the thanks of the whole town are due to those gentlemen who gave such valuable assistance. Had Mr Whelan’s house gone, the whole of the block to the Meat B izcar must have been burnt with it. Fortunately there was no wind, otherwise it is possible that, notwithstanding the good work done by those present, there would have boon a large gap in Taranaki Road. Mr Lott, who lives only a few feet from Air Whelan’s back kitchen, had most of his furniture removed to a safe distance, in case the fire should not be subdued. Valuable assistance was rendered from the boarders at Haywood’s Hotel, amongst whom were several carpenter’s. The fire originated under the mantlepiece, whore a gap seems to have boon left. This had acted as a sort of flue, and drawn the flames from the fire up from time to time, till at last it became like tinder, when a spark would have had the effect of igniting it. Mr Whelan

had noticed this opening, but did not think there was anything to fear from it. Mr Whelan’s children had a very narrow escape (rom being smothered, as when the bedroom door was opened, the room was full of smoke, and there is no doubt that a few minutes more would have suffocated the children. The building was insured in the National Insurance Company, and Mr Dale (the agent) gave the necessary orders at once to have the damaged portion put in a proper state of repair. The estimated damage is—Building, £2U : Inrnitnre, &c , £2O. Air Whelan can therefore congratulate himself on such a slight loss.