SATURDAY’S FIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 May 1921, Page 5

SATURDAY’S FIRE.

RAPIDITY OF THE FLAMES. INMATES’ PROVIDENTIAL ESCAPE. A SHELL •DETONATES. Fuller details in connection with the fire which resulted in the complete destruction of Mr. W. J. Gfardiner’s large and valuable residence on Avenue Road, New Plymouth, early on Saturday morning, show that the inmates, eight in number, had a providential escape from death.

It appeals that the little girl Gardiner, 12 years of age, was awakened by the smoke in her room—she had evidently been sleeping with her mouth open and inhaled the smoke which set up coughing. The child got out of bed and rushed to her father’s room, the hall being full of smoke. “Daddy,” She exclaimed, “there’s smoke about, and 1 heard a crackling noise downstairs!” The father sprang out, followed by Mrs. Gardiner (who is in feeble health) into the hall, saw what was the matter, and entered an adjoining room where the two little boys, one of eight and the other of 6 years slept. He picked both of them up, clothes and all, and turned towards the front balcony, but flames began to emerge thereabouts, and he turned towards his own bedroom. Meantime the mother had secured the baby of eighteen months, who was in the same room as the other girl. Mr. Gardiner then awakened Mr. G. F. Bertrand, of the High School staff, who was a guest, and swung himself down from a small balcony near the bedroom window and rushed across to secure a lad der, which was placed alongside. Mr. Bertrand helped the children down. Mrs. Gardiner had gone back to secure some of her husband’s and her own clothes. Just then the flames burst through the bedroom door. Her smaller son, unknown to fyer, had followed her, and the flames actually scorched the little fellow’s face. She was fortunately able to ffiaep hold of Tit*U toy in

the smoke and hurried back. Just at they got on to the ladder the flames burst right through the bedroom dow, sweeping Jhe balcony. It was remarkable escape. A few more seci onds and the whole of the family have been trapped. PERILOUS EXPERIENCE. ; j Meantime the housekeeper (Mr& Evans, a new arrival from Canada), had a perilous experience. She heard the mother’s cry, and proceeded to her room* but fiiir.i'i a door leading to the main ball lacked and the place full of smoker >he turned towards the main cut below she saw the flames leaping up. She retreated towards her own room and got down a smaller leading to the kitchen, whence she waa able to make her escape. Mrs. Gardiner’s cry was also heard! by the inmates of “Maranui,” some( distance away, who, seeing the flames/ rang up the brigade and proceeded to the scene, happily to find the ixxmatea all safe and going away from the burning building. Flames were shooting out from the western side of the bußd-j ing, on the top end bottom storeys whilst the rooms on the other side werej full of smoke. This was but seven utes, at most, from the time of the| discovery of the fire by the little girb* and gives an idea of the rapidity ofi the spread of the flames. Attempts were made to get from tha; dining-room some trophies and others

valuables on the sidebbard. One trip 1 was made, a ease of trophies being ®e-* cured. Then the party were forced back; by the smoke and flames. On the linet near the building were some clothes*) and these, with the small lot grabbed, by Mrs. Gardiner, was all that was savJ ed from the fire, the others only having their night clothes. The Fire Brigade were on the immediately, and had some little diffi- 1 eulty owing to the configuration of the( ground and the absence of a torch, inf finding the fire plug that was put inj about a year ago opposite gate. The delay, however, was only a>i matter of minutes, and the hose was. run out and the water played on the building, which, by now, was a burning mass, illuminating the whole of the surrounding country and giving forth, such intense heat as to prevent anyone getting near. The brigadesmen. persevered, but the water pressure was not good, and even if it had been, nothing could have been done to save the building, which was obviously doomed. HEAVY LOSS INVOLVED. The brigade wisely confined themselves to saving the neighboring garage and cottage. Fortunately there had been a slight shower of rain between 12 and 1 o’clock, which damped the thick pihus muricata hedge beuvveen the burning building and the garage. The brigade succeeded in confining the fire to, the residence.

Within an hour all that was left of one of New Plymouth’s finest and biggest residences were two chimneys, which the brigade demolished later on. There was an entire absence of wind at the time, otherwise the whole of the buildings—garage, cottage, etc. —must also have gone. The garage contained a Hudson motor car, and had the fire come through that way the only access of escape would have been cut off.

The house was built in 1892 by Mr. Mullins, and later was purchased by the late Colonel Malone, who considerably improved it. When Dr. Walker purchased it a few years later, the building was entirely remodelled and. brought up-to-date in every respect. It was purchased by Mr. Gardiner , ten months ago.

The insurances on the house were £3OOO, of which £2OOO was held in the Taranaki Farmers’ Mutual, and £lOOO in the State Fire Office. The furniture was insured for £BOO in the Farmers* Mutual.

The furniture and effects were valued at £2OOO, the value of Mr. Gardiner’s trophies alone being £2OO. The house could not be rebuilt to-day for Mr. Bertrand was a heavy loser. Only a few days before he had brought in from Urenui his wedding presexxts, a collection of books, military medals, uniforms, etc. Of course the latter can never bs replaced. Mrs. Evans lost all her belongings, her wedding ring, and a sum of £3O in cash. GERMAN SHELL EXPLODES. A little after two o’clock there wa<e a tremendous explosion, caused, it wa» subsequently found, by the detonatior of a German 5.9 shell which Mr- Berfa rand had brought with him fron France. Fortunately, the shell sho upwards, making a pyrotechnic the case landing near a hedge. The spectators were not a little perturbed by this untoward event. The origin of !he fire is unknown. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner retired about 11.30. Mr. Bertrand came home a little later and retired a little after midnight, when everything seemed alright. Before retiring, .Mrs. Gardiner saw to the two fireplaces that had been used. A neighbor passed the house about midnight, when everything was normal.

Since the Aurora Australis display, and the subsequent atmosphere—a good conductor of electricity—the electric wires in the henxse were said to have emitted a more than usual “buzzing” noise, and this phenomenon was the subject of remark by the household, but that it could have "caused the fire is disbelieved by experts. Seen by a News reporter, Mr. R. H. Bartley, the borough electrical engineer, •stated that the possibility of a faro through a fault hi the electric service, where the work is so closely inspected and examined as is the case in New Plymouth, is infinitesimal. “As a matter of fact,” said Mr. Bartley, “we

knew Mr. Gardiner’s installation intimately, having occasion to inspect it only recently, and I can say that it was in thorough good order, and perfectly safe.” He pointed out that householders were safeguarded by the fuses, which would burn oxit if r fault occurred. Induction in conditions like those lately obtaining was more than usually prpnounced, but that need not cause consumers the slightest anxiety. He assured our representative that the services in New Plymouth wore absolutely safe, and that it was practically impossible for them to be the >aitse of a fire.