DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN PARNELL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 4296, 27 February 1884, Page 3

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN PARNELL.

Sad Fatality.

Tho Flro Brlgado Rofuso to Act.

A destuuctivk conflagration, unfortunately attended with loss of life, broke out at one o'clock this morning in a largo two-storied house situated at tho north-east corner of Manukau Road and Earl-street, Parnell. Tho building was tho property of a Mr MeIntosh, -who resides at Mongonui, and it was leased by him to Mr C. W. Goodson, of the London Arcade, who, it appears, subleased it to two persons—the lower story to Mr Biggs, bootmaker, who carried on busi ness therein, and tho upper portion to Mr Curtain, boarding-house keeper. It would appear that Mr Curtain and all his household, with tho exception of a boardor named Michael Hogan, retired to rost about 9 o'clock, the kitchen fire being out> and everything apparently safe. About ono o'clock, Mr Curtain was awakened by tho ominous crackling of flames, and almost immediately a volume of tiro and smoke burst into tho .bedroom. Curtain, with his wife, children, and two female boarders, managed to leave the burning building without much difliculty, but a boarder named Daniel Rcevcy only escaped from his bedroom by lowering himself on tho verandah by means of a blanket which he had tied to his bedpost. 'While on the verandah lie heard Hogan, the otlior lodger, call out, "Oh, Dan !" The cry was repeated twice. Reevoy couli not return, as the fire wns burning very strongly, By this time a considerable crowd of citizens had congregated on the Btreet in front of the burning building, and Mr Towle (blacksmith) and others were, by means of ono branch and a length of hose connected with tho newly-laid l'arnell water supply, endeavouring to allay the fury of the flames. When it became known that in all probability a human life had been sacrificed, a feeling of unutterable horror passed through the crowd, who, however, did not abate their exertions. The lire, which had apparently originated in the top story, spread with amazing rapidity, and by the time the Auckland Fire Brigade, with its appliances, arrived on the scene, all hope of saving Mclntosh'sbuildingandthehouseadjoining, occupied by Mrs Neill, was apparently lost. The latter building had begun to ignite, and the crowd watched with painful expectation the action of tho Brigade. It had been, of course, anticipated that Superintendent Hughes and his men would at once take part in the endeavours to quench the flames, but to the surprise and indignation of everyone present, the Superintendent refused to render assistance in the work, of extinguishment, alleging that he had instructions from the Auckland City Council not to act beyond tho municipal boundary. He, howovor, stated that ho was willing to give Captain Field and the Salvage Corps tho benefit of his advice as to what steps should be taken to suppress the fire. During the parley, Mrs Kevitt's residence, on tho upper side of the boarding-house, had become a complete mass of flames. The noxt house was occupied by Mr Neill, and a strong effort was made by improvising bucketbrigades to confine the conflagration to the two buildings that were now past /saving. Bucket after buckot of water was poured on the shingles of NeiU'3 house, and the workers soon had tho satisfaction of seeing that the flames were diminishing in intensity, and that at the end, at anyrate, the further progress of tho fire had been checked. In the meantime, there was great danger at tho Earl-street end of the conflagration. The flames from Mr McIntosh's buildings spread to tho roof of the house occupied by Mr Slater. The Salvago Corps, who had done " yeoman's service" all through, made a gallant stand, and succeeding in arresting the progress of the flames, though not before Mr Slater's house had been much damaged. Had Mr Slater's house fairly caught tire, nothing would have saved it, and a long row of closely-built cottages in Earl-street would for a certainty have been consumed. Most of the Auckland police were present at the firo under the charge of StationSergeant White, and worked hard.

Finding of Hogan's Body.

After the fire in Mclntosh's building had been partially got under, Hogan's charred remains woro found amidst the smouldering embers. The charred skeleton was taken charge of by the police, and conveyed to the Barrel Hotel. The deceased arrived here in the s.s. Doric gome months ago. He was about 23 years of age, and was employed by the Auckland Gas Company. He bore the reputation of being a very temperate young man. Last night he had been at a concert in the Par nell Hall, but it is not known at what hour lie retired to rest. Insurances. ? The insurances are as follow: Mclntosh's house, £225, South British ; Mrs Revitt's house, £150, South British; Mr Curtain's furniture, £100, Standard; Mrs Revitt's furniture, £50, New Zealand ; Mr Biggs's stock, £75, Colonial; Mr Neal's furniture, £100, Imperial; Mr Neill's house, £150, Imperial. Mr Neill fortunately renewed his policy with tho Imperial only yesterday _vfternoon. Mr Curtain's Statement. Daniel Curtain, boarding-house keeper, states that he and his family retired to rest last night at nine o'clock, leaving everything safe. The fire in the kitchen was out from tea-time, and he turned off the gas before going to bed. All the boarders went to bed about tho same time, with the exception of Hogan, who went to a concert at the Parnell Hall. Mr Curtain has no idea of the time when Hogan came home, but utates that he was a very temperate man. Hogan's box was thrown out of the window, so that Mr Curtain assumes that Hogan, after saving his property by throwing it out of the window, attempted to descend the fltiirs, and waa Suffocated. Mr Biggß's Statement. Mr Biggs, bootmaker, has made a statement to the effect that he resides in Bathstreet, some little distance from the shop. He left the shop at 8 p.m. last night, leaving everything safe, as he did not light the gas In tho shop that evening. He states that his stock was insured in the Colonial for £50, and he estimates his loss at 'sergeant MoMohon'a Report. Sergeant MoMahon reports that T H. Biggs, bootmaker, who occupied the ground floor of the boarding-house as a shop, did not sleep on the premises. ±ne boarding-house waa occupied by Mr Curtain, wife and child, two male and two female boarders. The names of the men boarders were Daniel Reevey and Michael Hogan. These all slept on the premises last night . . . Michael Hogan'a body was removed to tho Barrel Hotel by Sergeant McMahon, Detective Hughes, and Constables Hobson and Dewes. The origin of the fire the sergeantcould not ascertain, only that it was discovered in tho upstairs part ai the boarding-house by Mr Cu:-tain, who heard a crashing noise and then the smoke ondflames burst into his bedroom. Michael Hogfln had been at a concert, and was the last to go to bod. There were no fires alight in the house, and gas only was used. Tho Attitude of tho Brigade. It apfl(S2»rs that Superintendent Hughes based his action at the fire last night on instructions issued by the City Council some years ago that thfl brigade were not to go to fires outside the city. The ttree fires that have occurred in the suburbs "nee the 31st December have cost the City Council £10, without including wear and tear of plant-by n» means an inconsiderable itemf It is no secret that of late City Councillors have been rt hn| at the city feeing burdened at all with the expense of the outside fires. When the alarm was first given at tho Parnell fire Mi Hughes believed that it was in StanleyBtroet. Had he thought it was outside municipal limits, he would not have gone to tho fire, Ml- Hughes informs us that even had any of the Parnoll Borough Councillors of some of the insurance agents guaranteed to pay the Brigade when they arrived at the fire, they would have started work.