Saved by Forty Seconds.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7992, 1 December 1905, Page 2

Saved by Forty Seconds.

AX llicnoic I'M UK UKSITK. An exciting fho rescue from (heapper ll.v)rs of 0«*. St. <Paur.srhurehyard was witnessed by several thousands of people. JOscape hy t*he doorway was rendered impossible for sown men- and two women who wX'i'O in the build* ivi by the lh\? and smoke that filk-d the staircase. Hy crawling- across u' ladder to another odice oil the opposite side of Cannon-alley three men r'ached safely, Jive others, inclndin. a young woman named *Miss Hunt. a photographer's assistant, rushed up to the roof, and, climbing a pai: pel. found safely on Ihe rocf of mi adjoining building. I'm the 'housekeeper remained imprison. vl in her room on the top floor. Amid the intense excitement of the assembled crowd \i®?e tin-men mounted the escape and reached her window. Inside in an almost faint- | ing anil h\siencal «;um.lhion was thu ' poor ol'd housekeeper, .Mrs Wells. a woman of nearly sixty \ears of agv\ frantically clinging to the window ■rame. Hy main force the liremen "had to drag her away, ami one of tlum. placing hor over his shoulder, slipped down to the ground. i oml cheer* greeted the brave and skilful act": They had not subsided when there was a crash—the roof had fallen, and th«' ro<,«m in which Mrs W;' ! s had 'been less than a minute be'.ore was a mass of burning ruins. Her life was saved by forty second*,