FIRE IN KARANGAHAPE ROAD.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 221, 19 September 1888, Page 8

FIRE IN KARANGAHAPE ROAD.

A Narrow Escape.

Shortlt after 9 o'clock last night a fife 'occurred in the cottage of a, man named Adam! McKemish, which is situ-' :ated at the rear of Mr Cox _ drapery establishment in Katangahape Road.; Fortunately,, the fire was discovered by Mr Cok before it had got too good a hold of the building, and wae extinguished, Otherwise a,^ big fire must have resulted, as it is completely Bui-rounded by wooden tenements. George Cox states that he lives iri front of the two-roomed cottage ownedby McKemish. About 9.15 o'clock last night he had occasion to go *to the lower; end of his yard clo-je to MeKemish's Cottage. He heard a crackling noise, and on looking thrbugh the window "he saw a flare of fire in tho passage. He called Mr and Mrs Geary, who live next to him. With their assistance he burst open the door and with asmali hose they succeeded in extinguishing the fire. It had evidently originated near the fireplace. Adam McKemish was asleep in bed, and was nearly suffocated from the smoke. Adam« McKemish, states that he is insured in the New Zealand Office for £40 on the buihling and £40 on the furniture and ©fleets. He says that he went to be about about 8.30 p.m., and did not again awaken until the door was burst open. There was a small fire in the fireplace and some kindling wood on the hearth when he went to ' bed. -

Evidently the lighted wood must have illKh frtirri the -irOplace and started that op^tbe bheaj#h.._, v J^-p-Bt^iuiaJb, had a narrdvv escape, as the fireplace is situated near fchendcorway,. whinh y js_:the only means of e^freslS*froin tlie; building.*;::Tn .fa'Bif. fclfe cottage is 7 a regular .trap, • for" riot One of the "windows can be opened. A window at the back of the house was broken iri order to get at the seat of the. fire. The damage to the building does not exceed £5,. but Mr McKemish laments the destruction of some valuable pictures.