FIRE IN ALBERT STREET. Two Firemen Seriously Injured.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 139, 30 January 1886, Page 6

FIRE IN ALBERT STREET. Two Firemen Seriously Injured.

The lower part of Albert-street was the scene of a sensational fire shortly after midnight of January 24,' whe n' the three-storey wooden building fornierty known as the Black Bull Hotel was practically destroyed. The fire appears to have, been observed abtfut "the tame time by a man named Rutherford., JDrummond, who Was passing down the street^, <and by D. t Lindsay, the proprietor of tb^ad joining boarding, h'ouse P Drummond says he, was -proceeding along the' street when^keo,b§erved the fire-through the middle window, of the first floor. Lindsays statement" is to the effect, that he was at - the rear of his premises when he saw the flames through the first floor back windows, and running to j the front ho also observed the glare through the windows there. He at once called a hansom which was in the street, and sent the driver to ring the bell. Drummond, meanwhile, had been arousing the neighbours to a sense of their danger. The Fire Brigade, under Superintendent Hughes, and the Salvage Corps, under Foreman Ward, were on the ground within a ' few moments of the alarm being given, and connections with the water hydrants were quickly made. The flames by this time were ascending high above the roof of the building, and, accompanied by dense volumes of smoke, were pouring out of the windows of the' two upper floors. The fight with the devounng element was an exciting one, and again and again the firemen were vociferously oheered for their displays of pluck, efficiency, and enduranco. The fire was attacked front and rear, the branchmen reaching the first floor by means of ladders reared up against the windows. Notwithstanding the strong hold which the flames had obtained, the effect of the water waa soon apparent, and cheered by the onlookers, the firemen ascended still higher on the face of the blazing structure. At this moment, a most unfortunate accident happened. Fireman Webb was assisting with the branch on the ladder at the south-eastern corner of the building, when the water came too strong for him, and missing his hold, he fell to the ground, a distance of over thirty feet. His fall was somewhat broken by the ladder and hoso, but even then no one doubted that the poor fellow had met with" dangerous if not fatal injuries. He waa picked up, but to the surprise of everyone, struggled to his feet after proceeding a few yards, and walked to Mr Lindsays boardinghouse. Dr Dawson was at once sent for, but before his anival a further necessity arose for his services. Branchtnan,, Boreham, whose plucky conduct with the branch in the front of the building, had evoked repeated cheers from the spectators, was compelled to re tiro irom the fight, having sustained sevoro burns in various parts of the body by a fall of scalding hot water upon him. The doctor fortunately came provided with lintand bandages,and the twosufferers, who bore the pain from their injuries with unflinching endurance, were quickly attended to. Webbs -injuries consist of bruises on the temple and other parts of the body, but are not very serious. He hae, however, been confined to his bed since the accident. Meanwhile the Brigade, who, it should be mentioned, were short-handed through the absence of some of their comrades at the Fire; Brigade competition at Napier, were rapidly extinguishing the flames, and at the same time prevonting them extending to the neighbouring buildings. The Pier Hotel, as our readers are aware, ia built clo6e ag-ainet the Black Bull buildings, whilo Lindsays boarding-house is only separated from it on the other side by a five feet passage. Both these structures are, however, of brick, and to tliis fact their escape is in a large measure due. Soon after one o'clock the fire was at an end, and only the outer walls of the Black Bullremained. It was ascertained during the progress of the fire that tho building has been unoccupied for the last fortnight. It was occupied up till that time by James Lindsay, cabman, who paid £3 per week for it. Tho interior of the placo has been undergoing renovation, and on Friday, Mr Dunne, of Grey-street, completed a contract for painting and paperhanging amounting to £25. The houte was again to let, but had not been taken. No pereon waa residing on the premises, so that the origin of the fire remains enshrouded in mystery. Mr M. Gallagher is the owner of the building, which was insured in the United Office for £800. We should not omit to mention that a strong posse of polico under Senior Sergeant Pratt were preeent, and prevented the crowd from interfering with the operations of the firemen, An inspection of the interior of the Black Bull'building to-day shows that the fire must have raged most strongly in the neighbourhood of the staircase leading from the ground to the first floor, thus supporting the theory that the fire originated on the ground floor. This view is held by some lodgers in the Star Hotel, who ran out when the alarm was given, and express themselves confident that the outbreak did not occur upsl airs. The windows and sashes of the Pier Hotel was somewhat injured, and including the datnage caused inside by water, the loss then will be about £60. Tb© stock and furniture are insured for £600 in the National. Damage to the extent of £30 or £40 has been caused by water at Mr" Lindsays boarding-house. We understand that it is Mr Gallagher's intention to* replace the Black Bull building with a brick structure without delay. 'Mrs Browning, of the Pier Hotel, returns thanks in another column to those gentlemen who assisted her during the fire on Saturday evening. '

With regard to Louis Kiel'? execution, I heard a Canadian Bay (he didn't buttonhole me) that many of the volunteers who were callednpon to, assist in suppressing the late rebellion weie so angered at being disturbed from their peaceful labour, that they swore that unless an example was made of the leader of the half breeds they would never respond to another, call- to arms. It is in obedience to this /vindictive feeling, which had taken root among the populations threatened ,by « Kiel's eavages, that the Government of Canada finally decided to reject pleas for mercy in favour of Louis Rial.— "Globe ?, correspondent.