A FATAL FIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 3 August 1907, Page 2

A FATAL FIRE.

Per Press Association. Nelson, August 2. A shocking fatality occurred last night. A small two-storey building in Milton street was burned, and with it two men, John Stewart, bootmaker, the owner find occupier, and John Brown, engineer. These two had been indulging in an orgie from the afternoon onwards with a third man, who left some timt in the evening. There were many people present, but none coulfl gain admission.. A strong wind helped the flames While the firemen were trying to extri rate the bodies after the place had bcco gutted, a chimney fell, and three firemen —Jns. Whiting, Jos. N#sbit, and Edward Woodward —sustained some injuries. The dead "bodies of Stewart, and Brown were eventually found, so charred as to be unrecognisable. An inquest was held on the fatal fire, The medical evidence showed that death in both cases was caused by suffocation and burning. One witness, Ogilvie, deposed that he last saw John Stewart and John Brown alive about 4.30 or, Tuesday afternoon. He had bought and taken to them two bottles of beer, whicl ■ they drank at Stewart's house. Thej were all sober. Another witness de posed to seeing Stewart in hia house jusl before seven, when he was. staggerinj about with a candle in his hand. Th< occupant of a house two doors fron Stewart's discovered the fire, but iva; , unable to enter the back portion of thi . house. He shouted, but received no an . awer. The licensee of the Bush Tavon deposed that Stewart visited his housi ( just before noon on Thursday. He hac half a pint of beer, and took away twe square bottles of bepr. Ogilvie, in tht afternoon, purchased three bottles <v ; beer. The jury returned a verdict t.h"< 1 both men met death by suffocation nn> burning, adding that there was no evi dence to show how the fire occurred.