FINE HOSTELRY DESTROYED.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 46, 22 February 1918, Page 4

FINE HOSTELRY DESTROYED.

MAXY AUCKLAND GUESTS. (By Telegraph.—Special to "S'ar."> WAXGAXUI, this day. Foster's Hotel, once the pride of Wanganui, and regarded as one of the finest hostolrics along the West Coast, is now nothing but charred ruins. This morning, in daylight, one can gauge the amount of havoc caused, there being no(thing left but a. burnt-out shell, compared by desolate brick walls. It is beI lieved the lire started in one of the bedrooms on the top floor, and at the time some of the guests 'were at dinner. So : quickly did the flames spread that there was little to do except make a hasty exit. At this time there was considerable confusion and great excitement. One of the guests rushed out on to an upstairs balcony, calling ■"Fire. - ' Other guest* who were in the lounge and smokingroom on the ground floor tried to ascend the stairs tp save their belongings, but they were unable to get above the first floor, where smoke drove them back. Senior-sergeant Bourke was one of the early arrivals on the scene, and he also reached the first floor. As far as he could ascertain there was nobody in the upper rooms.

The fire burned fiercely for the beat part, of an hour, firemen fighting their battle under difficulties which really should never have existed. Hoses leaked in various spots, and a hydrant- snapped in two pieces, while a "twist"' in a hose on one 'occasion hampered operations at a critical moment. The Westinghouee steamer was brought into action about three-quarters of an hour after the alarm was given, but the advantage was of a dubious nature. In the first place the railway gates were locked, and access to the wharf could not be obtained. The steamer wae then taken to the back of Messrs. Johnston and Co.'s premises, and while the suction pipe was being laid a carelessly thrown match set fire to some benzine on the machine, so that for a while a minor fire progressed merrily, the steamer being in danger of destruction.

SOME EXCITING MOMENTS. There were several moments of excitement during the big blaze. When the alarm was given a hotel waiter named Ell cry Scott hastened towards Mrs. Foster's room, having heard that she had not got out. On his way lie was instrumental in saving the life of a lady guest who had become hysterical. While getting out through a bedroom Scott's coat caught on a bedpost, and this moment of detention saved him serious injury, as a blazing beam fell a yard ahead of him. Three firemen worked at one stage from a precarious advantage point on the first balcony, and there was a cry of horror from the crowd when a quantity of blazing debris fell among them. During fire-fighting operations two of the firemen —Messrs. Yearling and Lampitt—were somewhat cut about. Fortunately they escaped serious injury, but their injuries necessitated medical attention. There wae a rumour about midnight that the fire had caused loss of life, the starting point probably being a statement by an excited man that he had missed his mate, and that the latter was left behind in the hotel. The police authorities state, however, that as far as. they knew everybody got out safely. PERSONAL EFFECTS LOST. There were 92 guests at the hotel, including several Aucklanders, who lost their personal effects, the losses being particularly severe in the case of some of the permanent boarders. It is stated that there were valuables and jewellery to the extent of £3000 in the hotel safes, but it is hoped that the safes will be recovered in the debris intact. Among the Aucklanders at the hotel who were heavy losers were Mr. and Mrs. W. Raven, Mr. and Mrs. W. Craig, Misses R- Ryan, MacNaniara, C. O'Connor. Hadden, and R. McKenzie. The refugees from the hotel received much kindness both the hands of other hotelkeepers and private people. WAREHOUSE BADLY DAMAGED. Ross and Glendinning's warehouse, adjoining the hotel, was very badly damI aged, the upper portion of the warehouse being gutted. The st«k also suffered severely from_the effect* of smoke and water- "~