A FATAL FIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 59, 30 July 1914, Page 4

A FATAL FIRE.

HOTEL BURNED AT BLUFF. THREE MEN* BURNED TO DEATH. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Invercargill, July 29. A disastrous firo occurred at Bluff juat after midnight, which completely destroyed the Club Hotel buildings, a fine two-storeyed brick block, in whicn several businesses were conducted. The flames had a firm hold when discovered, and the brigade's efforts were successfully directed to saving the Post Office on one side and the Harbor Board's building on the other. The insurances total about £II,OOO, and the loss about £4OOO above this. ,' '. SOME NARROW ESCAPES. Invercargill, Last Night. Among the narrow escapes may be mentioned that of J. Bree, a boarder, who was awakened by a scream of on* of the servants, who rushed into his room with her night attire ablaze. He rushed her to the fire escape, and saved her.

E. J. Bradley, a railway employee, was awakened with the room full of smoke, but he gropingly escaped. One of the servants was awakened in time by Fred. Hunter, who saw her standing stupefied, and he carried hef. out to safety. , BURNED IN THEIR BEDS. ' ' Invercargill, Last Night. ' There were three victims of the all being at the Club Hotel, which is completely demolished. | Their names are: Peter Morisen, aged 55; Fred. Blucher, aged 60; T. T. Brook, aged 28. , It was only after daybreak that the awful intelligenve was bruited abroad that Brook was due on duty at the railway at 6 a.m., but did not put in an appearance. He was a young man, single. On the night preceding the fire, he arrived at the hotel from a hard day'* work, and his remark to one of the hotel staff was, "I am dead tired, and I'm going to have a good sleep." He went straight to his room, and from that minute nothing was ever seen of hiin again. A careful search failed to find any human remains under the 'bedroom he occupied. In the morning It was found that Peter Morisen, an American Swede, was missing. He was a ship's carpenter, and was well-known at the Bluff. Charred remains were found in the tangled wreckage of the bedstead he had occupied, proving conclusively that he had been suffocated in his sleep, and had never stirred from his bed. Only the incinerated trunk was found. Some hours later, searched came across his skull. Deceased, so far as is known, had no relatives in New Zealand, and was a single man. Fred. Blucher, a well-known old charater of both Invercargill and Bluff, was the third victim, an ex-man-o'-warsman aged over 60 years. It was not until noon that it became ceitain that Blucher was a victim. It was stated first that he had gone to Taieri, and the staff of the hotel was not sure whether he spent the night there or not. Conclusive evidence, however, was subsequently forthcoming that lie arrived in Bluff 7 ™ e , '-10 P-m- train, and was seen about m the evening. Where he slept is not known, but there is no doubt that he is tlhe third victim of Tuesday niehtfe awful tragedy. ' 8 *B?n llot f 1 1 ! )uil ? in 8 s were lnßu «d to £6OOO and the furniture £1150: D O Hamilton, chemist, £475; Edge, confec-' tioner, £195; Ferguson and Hotton, toMZ a'a £U °- t Hai 8 h ' newsagent, ii vi' i A ° dorßon ' fancy goods, £1000; Huddart .Parker and Co., £100; Bank of New Zetland, £BOO. All are total losses except the bank, the roof of which was destroyed.