FIRE AT TARATAHI.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4622, 15 January 1894, Page 3

FIRE AT TARATAHI.

Narrow Escape Ftom a Dreadful Fatality, . , Between 4 and 5 o'olook on Friday morning the iiiuiaU'S of Mr Ben Bayner's house, Wist I'aratahi, whi'b awaktmcd from'heir slumbers (says the Wnirara|-n Ohemr) by ilie dread cry of ''Fire." .The rooms vvmo filled wi>!: il. npo «n>nicii and it was with difficulty tho'firu wus looiUd, owing to the o njiision caused by the sudden alarm /and tin; suffocating atmo.-plioie.- ,Sliou,» came from a • room wlitire k young farm hniid sleeps and lie was eneigiticully mdoavouring to extinguish the lire : that had got into tli" scrim mid wall T.Tttgr, The appeared conI fitflfe' rfiis bedroom and an ad' •'' j'oWg one and it was not long before thijy were subdued. Iho smoke still continued and the fire had evidently got in'o the lining. Fodufiatelya man hole was in the passijßceiliug, aiw ut ladder was liromptly placod in pwtien, nllowiug Mr Rajner to ascend w tb » bucket of water. There was iu tnst heat just l<elow the roof, and tl> use emuke, hut a free application ol water soon reduced all this, and put out tin 1 fin- that ,waburning between the liiiit.g. How the fire originated is a mystery. The family had all been to a pionic 4 Mr J. Kayrier's senior liouso. Being a family gathering tlicj (!iii not break up till late, and reached their home at 2 o'olook on Friday. The your;; fellow vho helps ou the farm had laired aft>'r milking his cows on Th l -sday night and was ear'y «sleep. He did n.t awaken until aroused in great pain to tiiscovor his bedding SDiO'i'derii g with lire. He leaped up and tho w»lls being iil>inz>lie.seized a coat and endeavoured to t>ent down theilaim* nt ihi'Sfltnetime giving the nlarr.i. Mr Kayner savs ho nokeup coughing '.o find himself nearly snffocated with n..oke. Only for the alarm given some or all of them would bave bren suffocated. I'hure were 8 people in tho house. It iri fust a miracle the house was saved from destruction. The building is inßurcd for £IOO and the effects for £s(j in the office for wln'eh Mr John Graham, of Masti rton, is agent,