FATAL FIRE IN QUEEN STREET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8304, 6 December 1906, Page 5

FATAL FIRE IN QUEEN STREET.

MRS WATSON'S BOARDING HOUSE GUTTED.

MAN BURNED TO DEATH.

TWO BOARDERS SERIOUSLY INJURED.

A fire, resulting in the loss of life, onaurred in Mrs Watson's boardinghouse at the northern end of Queen Street, early this morning.

Constable Kyle was coming over the Waipoua Bridges from Laasdowne, a!; 12.15 a.m., when he nokioed smoke issuing from the front of the building. He immediately pave the alarm, but before the Fire Brigade arrived the front part of the building was a ma»« of flame. Luokily there was no wind blowing, and the flames were for a considerable time confined to the south wing of the building. This enabled the boarders In the hoaso to escape with a considerable quantity of their belongings by the windows in the north end of the building. Five branches were put on by the Fire Brigade, and the Jubilee engine was brought into requisition. The fire burnt furiously for upwards of an hour, and seemed to break out in a fresh spot every few minutes. After.the Ore had been burning for about half an hour the flames spread ro the north end of the building, and the whole place was completely gutted. Had thoro boon a wind blowing there is not the slightest ctoubt but that the adjoining house would have been destroyed. As it was the side of the building was badly soorohed. The firemen worked splendidly, while the Fire Police did excellent work. Ihey managed to save a considerable quantity of Mrs Watson's furniture, The fire broke out in No. 10 room, and in this room Fireman Gardner discovered the dead body of a man lying on the floor. The body was badlj' burned, end was removed by the polioo to the morgue. The unfortunate man has not yet been identified, but his name is believed to bo John Ouff, who came to the distriot about two months ago from Ngapura, Oamaru. Iwo other inmates of the house were seriously injured. One, a Mrs Meyer, bad her head and arms burnt, and another, Mr M. Brosnan, had both arms and the back of his neok severely turnt. The sufferers were taken to Oxford iJouse, and were attended by Dr. Cook and Mr N. Eagar, 'of Mr H. T. Wood's pharmacy. The building, which belongs to the Trust Lands Trustees, was insured for £375 in the Northern Offloe. Mrs Watson had her furniture, which she values at from £3OO to £4OO, insured for £2OO in the same office. Saveral of the boarders lost heavily by the Are, the origin of which is a mystery.