FIRE TRAGEDY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 36, 13 February 1939, Page 8

FIRE TRAGEDY

MAN’S DEATH IN BACH COMPANION HELPLESS TO ASSIST I [ Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Feb. 12. Within a week of his arrival at Auckland an Australian visitor was 'burned to death in a fire which destroyed a bach at Piha early this 'morning. He was a married man I with five children, his family still I being in Sydney. His companion, also an Australian, was unable to attempt a rescue and had to dash from the blazing building to save his own lite. i Tne victim • was Gordon Robert i McKay, aged 43, fruit preserver, of I Burwood. Sydney. McKay had taken £2OO in Australian banknotes with him to Piha and the whole amount was lost in the fire. His companion was James Arthur Talbot, aged 38, a fruit preserver, also ot' Burwood, Sydney. He lost everything he had taken to the beach, including £33 in Australian currency. The two men arrived at Auckland last Monday by the Mariposa and had entered into negotiations loi opening a business in New Zealand. They took the bach for a short holiday. About 1.30 a.m. Talbot was

awakened by a fairly loud bumpint; sound and lie found dames beginning Ito lick through the panelling. Reaiisling the need for quick action he i thrust open the door in the hope oi dragging McKay to safety but he was | immediately driven back by a wall of I flame. The heat singed Talbots I face and clothing as he staggered back to safety and by the time he had escaped from the bach, the louri roomed wood and iron building was | well ablaze. "There was absolutely no chance o. i getting into McKay's room," said i Talbot later. 'There was no sound from him and he must have been overcome long before 1 arrived at the I door.” I Talbot, who suffered considerably I from shock ran for assistance but the I earliest two arrivals found it imposI sible to force an entry to McKay s i room. One broke through the back door but was driven out again by the /tierce heat of the blaze, it was now .obvious nothing further could be done to rescue McKay and his remains were recovered later.