FATAL FIRE.

Te Aroha News, Volume XII, Issue 1796, 28 December 1895, Page 2

FATAL FIRE.

A MAN BURNED TO DEATH. WOMAN AND CHILD REPORTED ' MISSING. THIRTEEN HOUSES DESTROYED. : . ESTIMATED LOSS, LGOOO. . : Coromandel, December 24 A fatal and destructive fire broke out about 3 a.m yesterday in the Star and Glarter; Hotel,Mr/:Stehr : proprietor,, in Ring’s Road, the main throughfare of the Coromandef township. When the fire/was discovered it appeared to be in the vicinity of the staircase, but how it. originated is not known. Mi. Stehr states that he wont through every room and roused the inmates but some of them did not get out. One man escaped through a window, ,and another got a very se.vere fall, and- was taken to the hospital. Two others were hurt falling from the balcony. It ,was supposed all had got out safely, but the hotel being crowded with boarders, and visitors it was impossible to say definite. The fire spread withterriblo rapidity, and in a few minutes the building was in flames, and the store of Mrs. Fer • nandez ignited. She and her sisters and stepson barely managed to escape but lost everything. The fire went on down the street taking Nash’s dwelling, the dwelling of Mr.Rugg, and the offices of Mr. Connell when itsfurthur progress was stayed by pulling down some buildings. On the opposite side the new)hall in course of erection was quickly demolished, then weut the building owned by Mr.; Lawson, and about to be occupied by Mr. Pufcell, tailor; the drapery shop Miss Love; from which a large quantity of goods were saved; the offioe of Mr. Jones and the store of Mr. Egan, who saved a good deal Of his goods; the new premises of Miss Bremmer, p irfclyoccupied by Mr. Rugg, and contents of which were saved, as was also'the casein Mrs Edwards’:]drapery shop. The premises of Mr Nesbitt’ tobacconist and stationer, were next lo go, but he saved most of his stock; and the premises of Mr j Sb-ongy saddler, and the residence of Mr t Gatland, were the last .burned, making up g total of some thirteen buildings, tho fire being the most disastrous that has ever occurred in Coromandel, o