THE FIRE OF SATURDAY LAST.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 594, 16 December 1869, Page 2

THE FIRE OF SATURDAY LAST.

PUBLIC INQUIRY. An inquest into the circumstances under which the fire of Saturday occurred was held on Tuesday afternoon by the Coroner, Dr Giles, and a jury of whom Mr Freeth was foreman. The following was the evidence given: J. A. M. Turner, watchmaker: On an alarm of fire being given on Saturday night, I saw a flash of light near the Ship Hotel, which was my property. I ran from Molesworth-street to Freeman-street, and found the house on fire. I entered it at the back, and saw that the fire was blazing out of the centre bed-room into the largest room of the house. I got a bucket of water to put the fire out, but by the time I got back it was impossible to enter with safety. I could see no one in the house. It was occupied by Ana Conroy. Latterly it was not a licensed house.

Henry Gromish, cook: About a quarter past nine I left the Post Office Hotel where I am employed, and called at the Ship Hotel, at the back door. Ann Conroy said Maggie Colburne, who lived in the same house, was not in, and she went in search of her. I remained for about five minutes, and then went out, when I met Ann Conroy, who said she had not found Maggie, but she heard her voice in Mrs Green's. She went for her and I remained in Molesworth-street speaking to a person, Charles Walker, when T heard the cry of " Fire." When I left the house there was a kerosene lamp burning in the large room behind the bar, and a candle on the kitchen table. I saw nothing peculiar about either of the lights. When I got back to the house, on an alarm being given, I opened the back door, and the smoke burst out so strongly that I was only able to get in, to get hold of a little clothes, and to come out again. Ido not remember noticing any fire in the chimney at the back of the house. I was in the habit of going to the house. Ann Conroy: I was occupier of the house which was known as the Ship Hotel. When Henry Gromish called, asking for Margaret Colburne, who lived with me, I asked him to remain in the honse, and I would go and look for her. I went in search of her. In about a quarter of an hour I heard a cry of " Fire," and I ran to my house, which I found, full of smoke. I went in to save a little dog, but was not able to remain. I saw the light of a fire near my house before I got to it, but when I got in at the back, I only saw a cloud of smoke. The light seemed to be in front. When I left the house there was a bracket lamp in the front room, with a little light, and a lamp in the back room. The latter was a large lamp hung by chains from the centre of the ceiling. There was no fire in the kitchen. I had only got the chains for the lamp in the back room on the day of the fire. It had not been hung up before. It was put up by a young man named Walker. There was a reflector above the lamp, and the lamp was suspended by a thick rope. It appeared to be secure. There was no one in the house but Gromish when I left. Thomas Hamlet was present when the lamp was hung. He said it was too high, and it was lowered down. He spoke about the rope, and considered it strong enough. Thomas Hamlet: I was Master of Ceremonies at Trimble's Theatre Royal. My clothes were left in the Ship Hotel. I saw a lamp hung there in the day-time. It was attached to a rope from the roof. The rope was sufficiently strong, and the lamp was hung as lamps usually are. I have not known of any accident by such a rope burning. Charles Walker, laborer, who had hung the lamp, said it was lit before he left and just " turned up." It was suspended by a strong rope. He had been out of the house for about a quarter of an hour, and was returning with some stores for Ann Conroy when he heard the alarm of "Fire." He tried to enter the house on his hands and knees, but failed.

Eiiza Cato: I had the Napoleon Hotel, next to the Ship Inn. I was

behind my bar about a quarter to ten, when I heard something fall in the next house. -I mentioned the circum* stance to my son. Shortly afterwards there was a buzzing noise. It got louder, and I spoke again to my son, who went out and said " Ob, we're on fire." He tried to force in the Ship Inn door, and I screamed " Fire," and I know nothing more about it. Paul Stallard, son of the last witness, corroborated her evidence as to the noises heard, and as to having seen light and smoke come shortly afterwards from the Ship Hotel. James Milne, of the Albion Hotel, who had entered the Ship Hotel from the front, was unable to go in any distance on account of smoke, but saw some curtains on fire in the right-hand room off the bar, which was also on fire. Henri Pain, cordial manufacturer, entered Bush's house, next door to the Ship Hotel, on hearing that there was a child there. He found the child, and brought it out. Bush's house was quite dark. J. A. M. Turner, recalled: There was no insurance on my property. The Coroner reviewed the evidence. The verdict was that " The jury is of opinion that the fire originated in the Ship Hotel through the careless manner in which the lamp was hung."