The Fire Tragedy

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 297, 19 May 1914, Page 5

The Fire Tragedy

A WONDERFUL ESCAPE. »J THE PROPRIETOR'S STORT. The Wellington Times of veataiSijj referring to the fatal fire in Oourifl^r4| The proprietor, (Mr. H. PkM£|| i with his wife and child, had a. W«aAfri| | ful escape. Mr. Pinnock, who ed to be very much shaken by Mi j£j| perience, informed the Times Tri||fflj| 1 that he was the last to retire on BMHH 1 day night. Everything then vru M«|i| ently sound 1 and safe. There was * jHfl| from a candle in room No. 8, on the |Kg|| floor, occupied by a man and wtprajl : who lmd given the name of "Mr. wjj'M : Mrs. Wilson" (and whose bodies later found in the room). They. Si 3 , only come in that evening, about , past 7 o'clock. They went out , registering, stating that they Tren > |^ , ffi ing to the pictures, and that wu last that he saw of them. NvtHSsg this light, however, he warned ttß» not to forget to put it out, and man replied that he would not ioigjt''!£j "I then went to bed, and knew )Sp"J| tiling more till I was awakened by 'ufci noise of something falling," said Mr. nock. "I jumped up, and opened Hi 'i door, only to be forced (bock by scorching draught of hot air. I tttwry Bang out to my wife, 'Get up, there's a fire I' Picking up tie bq]|r-|!j from her cot—the child ij about ttt"-" years old'—l inade down the passage jMjlj the fire-escape. The smoke «u ing in thick clouds, making progress dif- ■ ficult. My wife was forced back, bat 1 Inter bravely faced it and came on. ehvld, of co-urse, was terrified. How* "4 ever, 1 managed to get to the window, and climb through on to the flre-escdpe. It was a very awkward 1 and precartOM job climbing down, I ossutc you, Jh '• only had one hand to work with, other being taken up by the baby. And the cold! It was cold outside, and im r I only had my trousers on I felt &- £ I managed to get slowly down the lM»-\ der until I reached the last rung 6f tike sect ion, which was about twelve fatt from the ground. Someone shouted out' ! i to let down tihe remaining length. ()f course, aB both my hands were engaged, ■ this was impossible. I hung on as long' ! m I could, but, dazed by the rapid events of the preoedihg moments, I to leave go. My hand slipped from Us ■ support, and down I fell. The child escaped with a few abrasions on itfl arms, but I struck the concrete Willi . my head and was temporarily stunadd. Otherwise, I escaped unhurt. Together with my wife, I lost everything I had— "" everything Bave what I stand up ia. The twenty-one remaining inmates <1 < the all suffered similarly, losing even'thing. There is no truth in the rumor that there were other childftfe on the premises—mine was the only one. The fire gained with fearful rapidity, and it was a case of each for himself.

ABOUT THE BUILDING. A reporter went over the building 01 Sunday, and> he was able to gather iron what he saw that all the occupants had a veTy close call. The building, which is a brick structure, contains 19 rooms, and was formerly known as the Eagles Private Hotel. On the right of t&) ground door is. a. narrow passage leading to the buck yard. Along this passage to the left is a staircase leading to tJ» second and third floors, and also another narrow passage which leads to two diaing rooms on the left and a kitchen li the end. The living rooms on the second floor, which are very small,' ww divided by a passage, which is just a, trifle over three feet wide. A similar passage divides the living rooms of t&a third floor. A narrow staircase from the kitchen opens on to the second and third floors at the rear of the building. These passages being so narrow pr'acti•ally at led as funnels for the fire and wnoke. The rooms on the second and third floors were gutted by the fil», which, ae the occupants state, swept along the passage and through tho plastered walls and wooden doors at a terTible rate. Tho back fire escape, beiM put off owing ,to the flames, the front ohe was made for all who had time to realise its existence. Others made for the landings, which are outside tiltrooms on the second and third floors on the left Bide of-the building, whilst a few were able to scape by the main staircase in the front. Those who escaped with slight'y singed hair and burAt hands and fret considered themselves very fortunate. The room in which tho two bodies were found on the second floor, alongside the Staircase. Inside the. room, which was about lflft by aft, was a large douhle bed and a small t-hest of drawers. What with the bed awl the other furniture there was very little room left. TS« uiifortunato occupants were apparently suffocated, for they were not burned to any great extent.