CUT OFF BY FLAMES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 223, 14 May 1932, Page 5

CUT OFF BY FLAMES

(Press Assn.-

FIRE AT CLUBROOMS discovery of rbpe enables escape from burning BuiLding WELLINGTON R.S.A. BURNED

— By Telegraph — Copyright).

WELLINGTON, Friday. A fire which swept the greater poi- ; tion of the Returned Soldiers' Club, a wooden building at the eorner of Featherstone and Brandon Streets, provided a spectacular sight for about one hour this evening and caused j considerable damage to each of the | three floors. About a dozen men, who were playing billiards in the saloon on the top floor, found the stairway a mass of fiames arid smoke when they attempted to make their escape. The luclcy diseovery of a coil Of rope under a couch enabled most of them to get away in time, but tWo of their number had to be rescued by the fire brigade with an electric escape ladder, which had to he run up about 60 feet above the pavement. [ In about ari hour the fire was uni der control. | The principal premises damaged by fire and water were: The clubrooms of the Returned Soldiers' Association I and the offices of H. E. Leighton and Co. land agents, the Blue Cab Co., j Empson's tailoring establishment and the South Africah War Veterans' Association.