FIRE AT HAMILTON.

Waikato Argus, Volume I, Issue 22, 29 August 1896, Page 2

FIRE AT HAMILTON.

This need of sonic rort of an organisation for the suppression of lire wjs ajja : u exemplified at one o'clock yestordiy morniug, when a scveu-iv.ouicd resilience and shop, situated in Victoria-street, Hamilton AVcst, the property of Mr l\ MeMahon, bootmaker, was totally. destroyed by lire. Tile owner was away from home iit the time of the occurrence, and the occupants, four in number, retired about eleven, leaving s-ono clothes airing i;i front of a .lire, which was apparently lifeless. Just a 1 out o\v. o'clock, Mr W. Stannard, a visitor who was living in the hou-e, anil who had slant.very lightly, owing to an. attack of asthma, was awakened by'a choking sensation, lie rushed to the staircase, which led into the shop 'and ti uling that all chance of escape was cut off in this direction by tho (lames and smoke, ha at once aroused, the other inmate?, who ■were all sleeping on the upper story. 15/ this time tho flanics were bursting through tin floor, and tlje- half daze 1 occupants had just sufficient time to lower then.selves to the ground by a rope, passed through a back; window. They at once raised the alarm, but as the building win to far gone, the attention of the first ivtrivals was quickly devoted to preventing the (lames sprcul.iug to thfc two storey premises, occupied by Mis? Redmond, Mrs Mills'and Mr Young, and with this end in view, the intervening fence was at onee : removed. Fortunately the bicezU'wavfavorirab'c, and the wind wafting the tongues of flame on to tile unoccupied seetiuu,jiext to the Vicarage, alone .saved Ihe town from a very disastrous lire. Nothwithstanding the welcome wind, thcretisllittle db.ubt but that the loss would hive been much greater. had it not been for the timely arrival of Mr Ed;- Davey with a hand pump ' and hose. A good fS'ipp'y of. >\ - ater * was obtainable, he,.with tjic able assistance of Mr-John 15'etttey, rendered yconmri service.' Willing hands kept the empty buckets replcWshe(|,"bnt still with the small hose it was impossible to cover the whole of the wall. At one time the heat was terrific, ami--the 'timber commenced to smoke and crack novr the gable corner, and it looked as though the efforts of the workers would prove futile, but at this juncture the New Zealand Fire Insurance Company's ladder appeared upon the scene, an 1 but a few seconds elapsed be"-' fore Mr (larrett, a visitor to the town, hiyl rcachcJ the. roif, raced along the paripet, and emptied a bucket of water on the scorching spot. Several other buckets quickly followed, and by this time the lire began to .subside somewhat, and the issue wai no longer in doubt. Things gradually quietened down anil by tMM) a.in.'only a few smokin" ashes remained 'where once the dwelling stood. A strong breeze sprung up, and as sparks were flying in all directions several residents remained on' guard until about half-past five, when all was eonsiVdero l safe, ,The adjoining. householders! sustained considerable* losses by tho, hasty • removal of their furniture 'ami effects, 'Mr J ."A. Young being especially unfortunate .[n_this re-., speet. Little or notTuug was saved from the burnt building with the exception of a sewing machine ami a little bedding. We bcl'cve the building and furniture, were insured in the Phiriiix Ollice for L'2I)(), but this is not known for certain as Mr McMahon did not return yesterday. In our advertising columns this morning, Mr J. A. Young. Surgeon Dentist, thanks all those who assisted in preventing the lira extending to the premises occupied by hsm, and especially Messrs R. b\ Similes and A. J. Stoity, who helped him to remove his dental goods.