FATAL FIRE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 89, 14 December 1914, Page 4

FATAL FIRE.

CINGALEE SUFFOCATED.

A fatal fire broke out in a nest of four cottage bedrooms behind Capiil’s Temperance Hotel, shortly before 1.30 yesterday morning, resulting in the death of John Williams, a Cinga'ee. The blar'.a was first deiected by Mr Jack Wright, night porter at the Gretna, who immediately gave the alarm, the brigade burning out in dcuble-quick time. In fact, the men are deserving of great commendation for their promptness. The lire was well under way when the alarm was given, so several minutes lapsed before the brigade could approach on rescue work. At last Captain Cribb forced an entrance into one of the rooms, number 13, finding Williams lying between the bed and the wall. The unfortunate fellow had evidently made a struggle to get clear, but the smoke was very dense in that quarter, being adjacent to the room in which the fire commenced. Efforts at resuscitation under Dr James, of the Government Insurance Society, proved futile.

The buildings were completely gutted, but are covered by insurances of £35, and £25 on the furniture in the Alliance ofllce.

The cause of the conflagration is unknown.

A forma,! inquest on the body of Williams Avas opened by the coroner, Mr J. P. Aldridge, this morning, when evidence of identification was taken. Williams, it appeared, was on his way to the Wainui station with a party of Hawke’s Bay natives, with whom he had been in contact for a number of years. Deceased’s age was given as

44. The inquest wag then adjourned till Thursday.