FIRE AT HAMILTON EAST.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2547, 6 November 1888, Page 2

FIRE AT HAMILTON EAST.

The residence of Mr W. N. Searancke, District Coroner, at Hamilton East, was | wholly destroyed by fire at about half-past i three on Sunday morning. Miss Maude Searancke was awakened at that hour by the wall of her bedroom being on fire, and she immediately ran through the diningroom, which was in a blaze, to her fathers room on the other side of tho house to give hjm the alarm. The young lady then ran back to her room, and in doing so her hair was singed by the flames. Mr Searancke and his daughter, Miss Searancke escaped from their respective chambers and endeavoured to save some of their property, but the fire burnt so fiercely and rapidly that beyond some clothing, a sewing machine, a few papers and plate, and a large oil painting of Her Majesty, everything was entirely destroyed, even before the neighbours came to give assistance. There is no accounting for the origin of the fire. Mr Searancke says that when he retired, at ten o'clock, he left his linen before tho dining-room fire to air. The fire-place had a registered grate, and a small log of wood was on the fire. It is possible the log may have rolled out and m some way ignited the linen. Mrs Searancke and one of her daughters were on a visit to Mr Browning's, at Tauwhare, and it was whilst on their return homo on Sunday afternoon a messenger met them with the news of the disaster. A strong wind was blowing at the time, and the building being very old, it was very speedily consumed ; in fact Mr Searancke says the fire had run its course in less than half-an-hour. As a proof of the rapidity of the fire, it may be mentioned that a quick hedge immediately behind tho house was merely scorched on the near side, the freshness of the blossoms and leaves in the centre and outside not having suffered at all. The building was insured in the New Zealand Office for £275. The furniture, books, plate, &c, were insured for £400 in the Colonial. Mr Searancke lias lost about four hundred books, many valuable papers, and other articles that cannot bo replaced.