THRILLING ESCAPES FROM FIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 141, 13 June 1908, Page 8

THRILLING ESCAPES FROM FIRE.

3:1 VI LUMBIMBV. N.S.W.. June 4. v The most destructive fire in the history of the North Coast broke out here at 2.30 a.m. yesterday. The scene of the fire was a block of large two-story weatherboard buildings situated in the main street, and resulted in seven buildings being destroyed. The fire was first discovered by Mrs J. Wilson, wife -of the bank manager, Mr J. Wilson, who was away'at Lismore. Mrs Wilson's cries of '"Fire!" awoke one of the hank officials, who was sleeping on the premises, and also the residents of the boarding-house next door. Finding that escape was cut off through the bank Mrs Wilson and her baby and an unmarried sister (who was staying on a visit from Lismore) were with great difficulty helped over two barriers to the. balcony of the next house, from whence they escaped to the street. Mrs Wilson fainted on being lifted over. Miss Royal, proprietress of a boardinghouse,, lit a lamp, but she could not see for the density of the smoke, and escaped in scanty apparel. Nothing was saved. The boarders, who assisted to rescue Mrs Wilson and her baby and sister, left their own clothes behind; some even losing their boots, and jumping from the balcony to the street —a distance of 15ft. Mrs Wilson ■handed her jewellery—valued at £50— to a man to safeguard for her, but it was mislaid, and no tidings of it have so far come to hand. She lost her clothes also. The fire spread with great rapidit f and was only stopped after destroying the places mentioned by means of axes and water in buckets from the adjacent tanks. Fortunately no-wind was blowing, otherwise the entire block—if not the town—must have been destroyed.