IN A BLAZING WHARE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 146, 21 June 1890, Page 5

IN A BLAZING WHARE.

SORROUNDED BY FLAMES,

Two gumdiggera narrowly escaped a horrible death on the 16th inst., at the Great Barrier Islaad. They resided in a ranpu whare in Blind Bay, and wore named respectively Edward Graves, aged 33 years, and Frederick Harkings, aged 44. It appears that the men had ieveral tone of gum in the whare, and were engaged scraping it until 4 a.m. on the day in question. They then went to sleep, but were awakened later on by a sensation of suffocation. The men were horrified to find that their whare was on fire and that the gum was already blazing fiercely, and the melted material was running like lava on the floor. At the same time th* men , were almost choked by the thick black smoke arising from the barninggum. Notamoment was to be lost, and without trying to save anything beyond their lives, they fought their way through the fire, and succeeded in getting out of the whare. The men were, however, severely burned about the lega and arms. Nothing was saved from the whare and the men are thus left destitue, having losb about £40 worth of clothing and kauri gum. -. ' -;' The cutter Wanderer brought the sufferers to town last night. Both men were wrapped in blankets, and apseared very weak. Sergeant Clark, oi the Water Police, promptly procured an express, in which the men were forwarded to the Hospital, in care of Constable McDonald.