FIRE IN WYNDHAMSTREET.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 157, 6 July 1896, Page 2

FIRE IN WYNDHAMSTREET.

MR. J. H. HUGHES SUFFOCATED.

A fire broke out in Wyndham-streeb, close to Alberb-streeb, this morning in a fiveroomed shop and dwelltnghouse, occupied by Richard Dias, his wife, and a lodger, Mr James Henry Hughes. The fire was attended with fatal results, Hughes, who is an old man of over 70, being burnt and suffocated. ' As-far ah .can be learned, the particulars of the occurrence are much as follows :—Mr and Mrs Dias and their lodger retired ab about 9 lasb night everything below stairs being apparently lefc all righb. Shortly after 5 this morning ' Mrs Dias was awakened by a crackling >ound which at firsb she took to be the creaking of tho premises next door, which, being used as a dairy, the occupants are early astir. She was, however, soon aware that their room which is in the fronb of the building wae full of smoke and her husband awaking they immediately jumped upaud throwing up the window Mrs Dias gob on to the ledge running along the front of the block of buildings without waiting to pub on her clothes. The smoke was now very thick and Mr Dias, enveloping his head in a cloth, rushed on to the landing ab the head of the stairs with the intention of * rousing Mr Hughes. He wile, however,- compelled to return bo the window ab the front of the building by the heavy smoke, but ftob before in response bo his calls the lodger had called out •• All right." By this time a number of people had collected in fronb of the building, and Mr l>iag, who had made his way to beside his wife, called oub for someone to go and help the old man at the back, who was in greater danger than they were. Constables O'Brien and .Mcllvoney ran round to the back, and, breaking in the window of the room, found tho bed, which is close to the window, empty, and ib was concluded thab the old "man had escaped from the building, there being a loan-to just below the back windows. In the meantime Mrs Dias had been assisted by fireman Smytho, who lives close to the scene, and who was early on the spot, along the ledge and to the street, through the premises of Mr W, J. Galvin next door.

The alarm of fire was given bb soon as Mr and Mrs Dias bad been awakened, and bhe fire brigade was telephoned for from Keenan'B livery stables. They arrived in about ten minutes and the tire was extinguished without any damage being done to adjoining buildings but not before the premises in which it originated had been throughly gutted. It was not till aftsr the fire had been pub out thao the body of Hughes was found in bhe room adjoining his bedroom (ib the back. He had evidently proceeded, just dressed in his nightdress and with a rod handkerchief round hie head to the room next the bedroom and the body was found on its back with the feeb towards bhe window, he having evidently been overcome by the smoke and flames while attempting to raise tho window. The body was nob badly burned, only one side being slightly scorched, and doath was undoubtedly principally due to suffocation. Deceased, whose, body waa removed bo the morgue pending the inquesb which will be held, has resided in Auckland for aboub 20 years, but it is believed he has no relations living in the colony. He had only been living with Mr and Mrs Dias for about four mouths.

Deceased, who was a landscape gardener by trade, was a prominent member of the Liberal Association, and waa well known in connection with local politics. No explanation of the cause of the fire, which ib was afterwards found broke out under the stairs, can bo'given. Mr Diap, who values the effects in the shop and house at) £100, had them insured for £80 in the North German office. The premiwes are one of a block of four similar buildings owned by the Sailors' Home, and for which Messrs Ewington and Baker are Agents, The insurance on the block is £1,200 in the Commercial Union Office. . The. damage to fcho building in estimated at abouc £luO. Besides the Fire Brigade, the Salvage Corps were soon on the ground, and Sergeants Black and McMahon, together with four policemen, were present to render any assistance possible. .

The facts of the fire have been forwarded to Dr. Philsbn, coroner, and an inquest will no doubb be held to-morrow.