A Fire Tragedy

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 296, 18 May 1914, Page 5

A Fire Tragedy

TWO PEOPLE BURNED TO DEATH 5 Jl IX A WELLINGTON PRIVATB .ff| HOTEL. |gg t SOME NARROW ESCAPES. Jig By Telegraph—Press Association. '"*9 , Wellington, Last Night. 1 1 3J A lire, tragedy occurred in the 1 this morning, in the lioarding-h<HUtt*gg ■ premises in CSonrtcnay Pin**, known the Manchester Private IJotel The Eagles), liy which two lives lost. The building was a three-storey brick structure, containing 22 and occupied by Harold Pinnock. fi® About 3.30 a.m., Constable Hardy, M'/jSj duty in Courtenay Place, noticed fire and gave the alarm. The flumet had a strong hold when the brigade arrived, as a fierce gale was blowing, and the building was Ion? and narrow, with taflj the front windows open. The flro, which apparently started in ' -J5 the. kitchen downstairs and at the j| back or Windward end of the hoM, ; ;,j swept through the interior in an intni* ■-4lj ibly fhort Hpnce of time. : y -Ip The p'.acc was full of boarders, who'l4| made hurried exits by the Are escapes. Not all were so fortumte an to trot out .2 this way, however. One man on tbo " second floor made a rope out. of sheet* .ft from his bed, and bv its aid reached* 5 the ground at the back. Another mas ..-'C climbed down the spoutinfr from th» \,tl\ third floor, and so gained safelv at the .* $ rear. Others jumped from upstair win- - dows, and two or three were sent to ,the ,:i hospital with moro or less fcrious in- -v juries. - \-f When the fire lmd been subdued, and . V a search was made of the ruined intarior, a gruesome sight was met. T* a v small room on the second floor a man * 1 ? between 30 and 40 vears of ape. and a -J woman between 40 and SO. were found. Though still recognisable, they w«ftf -■ : very badly burned, and there was no- . J|j thing left in the room to lead to their identification. Thev toad booked ft ~Ws room on Saturdav n'sht- in' the name of Wilson, but nothing is known about them. r . 3 Everything appeared safe when the . inmates retired at midnii'ht. and how **! the fire originated is not known. Tire furniture and effects were valued at .£450 and insured for ,€350 in the Con- J> rnercial Union. The insurances on the ~, *■ building, which is owned by the Staise*', 1 '). -«j estate, are not available. THE WOMAN'S RODY IDENTIFIED. - ' WelVmcton, Last NipYit. " The woman's bodv has been identified as that, of Susannah Ackmnn, said to com# from Bendigo, Victoria. .'•Jjl