BURNING OF THE SPORTSMAN’S ARMS HOTEL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2565, 10 June 1881, Page 2

BURNING OF THE SPORTSMAN’S ARMS HOTEL.

Shortly after four o’clock this morning a'-man galloped in on horseback from the Saltwater Creek, and gave the alarm of fire by ringing the bell at the brigade station. Be reported that the Saltwater Creek Hotel was on fire and the brigade mustered with praiseworthy celerity, and were at the fire in a marvellously short time. The building was blazing away when the engine arrived and appeared one mass of flames. The brigade went to work at.once, but the front portion .of the building, which was of wood, was too fargone to render their efforts of much avail, and so the water was brought to bear upon the back -premises, com prising a couple of bedrooms and a kitchen, these the brigade succeeded in saving, and also a considerable portion of the furniture &c. The origin of the fire is unknown Some suppose it to have been caused by the explosion of a kerosene lamp and others by the rats getting at some matches in the bar. There seems to he little doubt but that the fire started in the bar in the front of the house, and the flames soon spread. Inspector Pender with some constables were soon on the spot, but they had little trouble in preserving order, a mere harfdful of people being present at that early hour. One man, however, seems to have done bis best to improve the occasion, for, taking advantage of the confusion he appears to have helped himself to sundry bottles of capers &c., He was arrested on the spot and a further account of him will be found in another column.