HAMILTON FIRE.
Lines suggested on reading an accouut of the great fire at Hamilton in The Waikato Argus : Oh, listen to the horrid rat, As he gnaws through wood and plaster, Ah, the black and hideous rat, The origin of such disaster. As the fatal match he tears, Little reeks he of the woe, Of the toil of many years, That in one short hour may go. Ah i the vicious, greedy rat, Men may stifle, gasp for breath, So long as he is getting fat, Others may be burnt to death. Hoar the dreaded cry of fire, Ringing through the still night air ; See the leaping names mount higher And the faces blanched with care, Sec it go from floor to floor, Breaking window, bursting door. Hark ! the crashiug of the wall, As blazing to the ground they fall. Hear the roaring, raging fire, It desolation spreads around . ' Will it never, never tire, Leaving naught but the bare ground. See the vandals in the road, How they gloat upon the spoil ; How they chuckle 'ueatb their load, Human rats that seldom toil. Ha ! ha ! you fiendish, fiery rat, Gnaw on ! gnaw on ! the trap is set. Vengeance may tarry ; what of that; Your time will come. You'll be caugh yet.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAIGUS18980802.2.34
Bibliographic details
Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 322, 2 August 1898, Page 4
Word Count
211HAMILTON FIRE. Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 322, 2 August 1898, Page 4
Using This Item
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in