FATAL FIRE AT ASHBURTON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9178, 29 August 1908, Page 5

FATAL FIRE AT ASHBURTON.

TWO LIVES LOST. SEVERAL PLACES DESTROYED. DT TBLK3 ttAPif —PRESS ASSOCIATION. ASHBURTON, August 28. One of the most disastrous fire 3in the history of the town occurred at 10 o'clock last night, and, besides destroying the main portion of one of the principal brick business blocks, was responsible for the loss of two lives. The fire broke out in a two storey premises occupied by Mr A. L. Zouch, dentist, and after utterly destroying it, spread to adjoining shops on either side, some of which were gutted.' Mr Zouch, two assistants, and a servant girl escaped safely, but Mrs Zouch, mother of the occupier of the shop, who was bathing at the time, evidently jumped from an upstair win • dow at the back, after being fearfylly burned. She was taken to the hospital, and expired as the result of burns and shock at 5.15 a.m. A boy, three years old, ton of Mr Zouch, was asleep upstairs, and was burned to death, the charred remains being discovered after the lire had been subdued. G. Hefford and Company's drapery establishment, at the corner of East Street, "was next attacked, and completely demolished, nothing being saved. Jas. Mellor's boot shop, on the other side of Zouch's, and the adjoining painter's shop of A. and R. Terris, were both badly damaged, the stock being destroyed as much by water as fire

The efforts of the fire brigade and a brick party wall stayed the progress of the fire in East Street, and the premise.vof Robinson (fruiterer), Burgess (stationer), and Young (bootmaker) were damaged only by water. Mr Hefford will be a heavy loser over and above the insurance, having just got in £BOO worth of spring goods. All the premises were owned by Mrs Coleman, in the estate of the late Captain George Coleman, and were insured for £3,075 in the Phoenix Office. I Hefford's stock was insured for £2,700, the Phoenix having £I,OOO, the Royal £GOO, the North British £SOO, and the Sun £6OO. Terris had a policy of £7OO in the Liverpool, London, and Globe, and Young of £4OO in the North British and Alliance, while Zouch's stock, furniture, and dental instruments were insured in one policy in the Yorkshire or £450. Mellor waa also insured, but details are unavailable. Later. There is no clue to the origin of the fire, though it is gtneially surmised from its sudden and otherwise unexplainable outbreak that it was due to the escape of gas. Mrs Zouch was the wife of Mr W. H. Zouch, Inspector for tie Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Aninnds n Christchurch. It is underwood that the premises wi'.l be rebuilt at once, Mr Hefford having a six jears' leasi to run. The loss ut' life created great consternation here, and Mr A. L. Zouch received numerous telegrams of sympathy. The deceased lady had complained of indisposition prior lo the fire,'and her son had, at i). 45 p.m., requested a doctor to see her. At 10.15 the fire was discovered. It is presumed that she would have had time to escape unharmed if she had not attempted to rescue the child.

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