THE FIRE AT WELLINGTON.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 819, 15 September 1877, Page 3

THE FIRE AT WELLINGTON.

The following further particulars of the fatal fire at He Alcorn's ''-'premises ' w Wellington, ate to hand :— ' ™ No sooner was the alarm raided than the whole upper story was inflames. The owner was out at the tithe. When/'Mxs Alcoru's attention was directed bv a servant she opeaed the door, and was immediately driven Jjaok by a sheet of flames, and prevented from .rescuing her little sod, three years old, whoww fsleW in another room. With some difficulty she passed the othor.funr obildren to febo roof of the verandah, from which she threw her infant to th^bystanders below ■ and soon after she was assisted down by a ladder brought by her husband, who arrived. The other children were banded down to bystanders. Water' waa soon playing on the fire, and it would have been shortly mastered, but that some volunteer broke the stand-pipe in endeavouring to turn on more water. A delay of ten minutes occured before the accident was remedied and water again flowing, during which the building waa burning furiously, and all buildings to leeward seemed doomed, bat- great exertions confined toe fire to Aloorn's. The body of the child was found when the fire was out: Two branch-men Who were on a verandah when the water was out off, were severely burnt before they oame down. Insurance, so far as yet obtained :— The building, Pbcenix, £600, • South British, £1000; stock, Transatlantic, £2900; Standard, £500; fourances on the stouk had for some time - been current in the Sew , Zealand 'and J&Akmal, bub allowed to 'lapse lately. TWagent f r the Transatlantic Insurance * ifflioe eay» that £150J*of ioV£2ooo for whioa Mr Aloorn was insured in that office was re-insured ia English' offices that have no agencies here, According totha valuation of Alcoon^s stock, mad« to-day by experts, it is estimated to have been worth batween £9000 and £10, 000 Daring to-day £500 was subscribed amongst the mercantile community in" a few hours for Mrs Alcorn and children, bo keen was the sympathy. "Very much more could have been gathered if required. Aboafc two years ago ifc is aaid that Mr Alcorn came here with five or six thousand pounds. By this fire he loses every BUiUinsi. The cash on the premises amounted to about £180, 'of which £14 has been found among the ruins. Lord and Lady Normanby have sent a letter of sympathy to Mr and Mrs Alcorn. At tha inquest on the child, the jury returned a verdict of " Accidental death." „.