THE FIRE AT DUNEDIN

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue XIII, 11 September 1879, Page 2

THE FIRE AT DUNEDIN

DISCOVERY OE MORE REMAINS. DUNEDIN, Tuesday. During the whole day, the Corporation labourers have been employed removing debris at the soene of the late fire. Portions of the remains of another body (the 11th) was found at Ross's building this morning. They were those of a young man, apparently about 20 years of age ; but the position m which the remains were found — namely, at the extreme north end of the building, shews that it is barely possible that they can bo those of the late Mr Wilson's eldest son. At a little past 4 o'clock to-day, another body was discovered on the ( second floor of tho building, thus making up 12. It was that of a man, but was not identified. One W. B. Dodson, who had been employed by the head bailiff of tho Resident Magistrate's Court, is reported missing. He had a week ago cxpw-ssed his intention of taking a room at Ross's buildings. John Taylor was the only man who was hilled by jumping: down, but it is doubtful whether the others will not succumb to the injuries they sustained by their falls. The six oa seven members of the brigade who were first at the scene of the fire were unable to do any good— it is improbable tbat they could have done anything towards saving life had they attempted to enter the building. The mistake of not having "the fireescape at once near the premises was fatal, but this delay is also attributed to the want of horses. Mr Waters and his wife were the first to escape from the building, and m leaving awakened a man-servant namedßroderick who also escaped. Mr Waters cannot state exactly the number of the occupants of his house that night. He judges that about 25 slept m the two upper stories. * young man named Deans, who was cook at the cafe, and who slept on the second floor, was instrumental m effecting a safe way of exit for a number of cafe boarders. He could not make his way down the stairs for the smoke when he was awakened, but climbed out through his window on to the spouting, and along this to a window, where he entered. A clothes-line was fixed from tbis window to an opposite angle of the building, and it was fixed with a pulley m such a way as to erable clothes to be hung out to dry. Deans got hold of this clothes-line, and made it fast m some way inside the room, and called the men from the adjoining room and passage to como to him. Some eight or nine men and women thus assembled, and got safely down at the back of the building, and several other persons escaped by means of ladders placed "gainst the windows. One of the most exciting experiences was that of two young men named Peter Grant and Edward Jenkinson, who, being engaged m foundry work m Dunedin, occupied a room belonging to Mr Wilson, and fronting tbe Btreet m the third storey. Next to this room was one occupied by Lettie, Louisa, and Sarah Wilson, and the servant Maggie McCartney, and next to the room directly opposite the stairway was Mr and Mrs Wilson's bedroom, m which Mrs Oliphant also slept. On the opposite side of the passage was a long room looking to the back, m which four servant-girls, waiting for places at Mrs Wilson's registry offices, slept. Grant was awoke by a cry of "Fire," and roused Jenkinson. They lit a candle, and found the room full of smoke. Looking out of the front window, they saw the flames coming out of the cafe windows on the ground floor. At the same moment two men, evidently boarders at the cafe, came to their door, attracted by the light, and crying, " For God sake shew us an outlet." Grant opened the door, and the room filling with smoke, he and Jenkinson made for the passage. Grant was fortunate enough to pick up a pair of trousers, m which £2 were also, as he was going out of the door, and picked up another pair of trousers, and a Volunteer's carbine and cutlass. Both tried to explain to the two men to follow them and to show them tho stairs. One of the men took hold, and Jenkinson held one till nearly at the top of the stairs, but then let go. As they reached the top of the stairs, a tongue of flame was roaring along the passage. How they reached the bottom floor neither knows, but after getting outside and having a breath of fresh air, the subject of what had become of the two men and of the Wilson <> children was broached. The two agreed . to go^ upstairs again, and, although they described the heat as something fearful, especially on the second floor, they did get up, Grant leading. Just on the landing, Grant found Louisa Wilson, who he took m his arms. It was impossible to go further, and another soramblo downstairs succeeded. Both state that when thoy turned back, they despaired of reaching the bottom again. However, thoy did so, both getting burned on the hands, and also ou the face slightly, Avith the addition of agooddealof singeing about tlie hair, ou the way down. While Lillie Wiis at tho window someone came out of Fred. Wilson's window. fie crawled iiloug the parapet till ho reached the corner, and when Jenkinson went ay/ay with Lillio, he was hanging to it by the hands. The young men themselves sscaned with nothing but their coat and :

trousers, and Grant haudod'ovor the extra pair of trousers ho had brought down, to an unfortunate fellow he found downstairs without any, aud who asked for them. Eleven bodies have been recovered from tho ruins. The body of R. Wilson, jnr., is known to bo m tho building. The bodies recovered are those of Robert Wilson, sen., Sarah Ann Wilson, Fred. Wilson, Sarah Wilson, Laurence Oliphant Whilson, Margaret McCartney, George Augustu i Martin, and Swan, and, besides the above, throe bodies are not yet identified, but from tho position m which thoy were found, and other circumstances, it is known that one of them is the body of R. Wilson, and ono that of W. B. Dodson, who had been employed by the head bailiff of the R.M. Court. He is reported to be missing. Ho had a week ago expressed his intention of taking a room at Ross's buildiugs. The persons now m the hospital suffering from injuries received m escaping, are : — Lillie Wilson, who has a wound on the arm, a scalp wound, and superficial wounds on both legs; Louisa Wilsou, who suffered injuries to her back ; David Thomson, who is bruised on the left hip and ribs. Tho latter is a young man who has, for the last few days, boen working for Mr Vesey, butcher.