FIRE, AND LOSS OF LIFE.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 14, 9 December 1863, Page 2

FIRE, AND LOSS OF LIFE.

On Tuesday rnorningr, about half-past one o'clock, a fire, which unfortunately was attended with fatal results, occurred in Taystrcct. The scr ne of the disaster was a cottage occupied by Mr Anderson, and situated in the section adjoining Smith's Victoria Horse Bazaar. About the time named, when the alarm of fire rang through the streets, although at that time there were few people about, it was not many^minutes before a score of persons were on the spot ready to assist in every way to extinguish the fire. It appears, from the few particulars which could be ascertained at the time, that the fire waa first discovered by some one in the Union Hotel, nearly opposite, and that amongst those who rushed out of the hotel into the street was the owner of the house, Mr Anderson, who horrified those near him by stating that his wife was inside the burning house. This terrible circumstance was sufficiently evident to some of those who ran to the house, by hearing tjhe loud screams of a woman. By the time they got to the house — which consisted of two rooms,, with an adjoining kitchen or "• lean to," as it is termed— the whole of it was enveloped in a body of flames, and while some of the persons around procured buckets of water for the purpose of endeavoring to put out the fire, others attempted to effect an entranr.-e into the house in order to try and save the poor woman. The fire, however, from the fiont part of the house was too fierce to allow any one to get in, and some men got to the back, and at a great risk of being burnt, burst open the back door. On breaking open the door a horrible sight presented itself. They saw the burning body of the woman, lying on the floor, close to the door, which it is supposed she had not been able to reach. Several attempts were made to face the fire in order to try and rescue the woman, but the flames drove the men backIndeed, it is probable that had they got the woman out at this time, her life would not have been saved. One of those who broke open the door, stated that the woman had the greater portion of her clothes on, and that she was lying with her head close to the door. Across her arm, which was outstretched, as if in the act of still trying to reach the door, a large burning rafter had fallen. Finding that it was utterly impossible to save the poor woman from such a horrible death, the people near— by this time considerably increased in nunjbers, — directed their energies

to save the adjoining property— -the Victoj Horse .Bazaar— and, although but aji numbers of buckets were at hand, by kee, up a good supply of water, which was obtainable from ar couple of wells neiit

hou3e, the spread of the fire was-prevgflj At one time the Horse -Bazaar was iu^j derable danger. Being composed of the same as the burning pranises, and q separated from it by about JR or seven/ it was maiuly owing to the great exertj used that it was saved. , A number of , got on the rooF, and by having plenty water passed up to them, they kept it, and side wall of the Bazaar sufficfe, wet to prevent the flames catchi In about half an hour from time the fire was first discovered, the Hq was reduced to a heap of burned ruy from which, when sufficiently cool to a| any one to go in amongst them, the mains of the~ body of the poor woman brought out. The origin of the flieij course, a complete mystery. From the fa c the poor woman being seen by those i burst in the back door, lying with her dot on, the most natural supposition is, that had been sitting up waiting for ncr husba and that having fallen asleep, the candle] set fire to the house. One can easily imag that being awoke by the fire, and half suQ ted and stupefied by ' the smoke, she \ unable to escape by the back door, and 1 fallen, lv attempting to reach it, in the p tion she was seen. After the fire was tinguished, Mr Anderson was-- kept in custody of the police, as he appeared to under the influence of drink at the time; he was discharged in the morning.