Narrow Escapes in Wellington Fire

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 51, 23 May 1927, Page 1

Narrow Escapes in Wellington Fire

A FIERCE BLAZE ! boardinghouse thrills WELLINGTON, Sunday. There were several narrow escapes by he occupants of buildings that there involved in a fierce blaze vestevdav morning. A house in Arlington Street, owned Ly Mrs. Mary McWilliams and occupied by Mr. Hermont A. Kernan. was destroyed. A boarding house next door, owned by Mr. Joseph Develin. was badly damaged, and another on the other side, occupied by Mr. Edward Collinge. was scorched by the flames, and the windows broken by the heat. Mr. and Mrs. Kiernan were asleep downstairs with their two-year-eld child, when they awoke to find the room full of stiffing smoke. They were barely ab'le to rescue their two other children upstairs, aged 12 and 5 years, and vacate the burning building. They had no time to dress or save anv of their effects.

Among tht> destroyed property was a wallet containing £l4.

The fire brigade managed partially to save Mr. Dftvelin’s boarding house, which closely adjoins the destroyed building; but everything was damaged either by fire or water. The occupants had but little time to escape. Mr. and Mrs. O. Pollett and their baby, who occupied rooms in the boarding house, were able to save only trifles. Their effects were not insured. Mr. and Mrs. Develin. with their two sons, one of whom is an invalid, had a close shave, and Mr W. Miller, a neighbour who assisted them, had his clothing burned in getting one of the boys out of danger.