FATAL FIRE.

Wairarapa Age, 7 March 1927, Page 4

FATAL FIRE.

RETIRED CIVIL SERVANT PERISHES. HOWICK HOtJSE DEMOLISHED. AUCKLAND, March 6. A distressing fatality occurred at Howick on Saturday evening a retired civil servant, E. H. W. Dixon, perishing in a fire which destroyed a four room dwelling in Uxbridge Street, leased by Mr. A. Gerring, town clerk of Howick. A young man. A. Isemonger, made two courageous attempts to find the unfortunate man in the blazing building. Dixon, who was an elderly man, had been residing with Gerring, his wife and family being in Auckland.

On Saturday evening Gerring left Mr. Dixon alone in the house at about 7.45 o'clock, ft being Dixon’s custom to retire early. Shortly before 9.30 p.m. the building was seen to be in flames, and there was an exodus from a picture theatre opposite of curious people, who could only sympathise in the absence of water connections and fire fighting equipment. The blaze was seen to have originated in a bedroom occupied by Dixon, and rumour soon circulated that Dixon was in the house. It was also general knowledge that Gerring kept a safe and town board records on the premises. The gathering made every effort to search the building. Although half the building was a mass of flamfts, Mr. Isemonger made his way through the smoke-filled passage and forced the door of Dixon’s room. A sheet of flame shot through the opening and smoke poured through the passage. Groping in the entrance, Isemonger found the floor had collapsed and he had to retreat. Later he made another fruitless attempt to enter the room. H. Hill gained access to the building through a window and collected a number of papers and documents relating to town board matters. Many papers had already been destroyed. A wire rope was hitched to the safe at some risk and a gang of helpers dragged the safe through the burning room. When the safe was opened the contents showed the effects of heat, but nothing was destroyed. ■When the flames threatened a’shed at the back of the dwelling, water was obtained from two adjacent tanks and the destruction of the outbuildings was prevented. At 11 p.m. the building had collapsed, and only the glowing embers remained. When enquiries failed to locate Dixon, it became obvious that he had fallen a victim. A search at daybreak confirmed these fears. The body, charred beyond recognition, was found near the bedroom window. A watch and chain lay close by, indicating that Dixon had been dressed when th© fire occurred. The position of Hie body suggested that he had been overcome by smoke while endeavouring to escape by the window.—(P.A.) ,