TRAPPED BY FLAMES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 106, 5 May 1923, Page 7

TRAPPED BY FLAMES.

YOUNG WOMAN'S DEATH. FIRE IN Y.W.C.A. HOSTEL. Trapped by flames in a bedroom on the top floor of a three-storeyed building, n young woman, who arrived from Sydney on Thursday, died from sulloca lion lieforr help could reach her. This «\is the tragic- result oft a (ire which occurred nt the V.W.C.A. Hostel in Mac. Donald Crescent. Wellington, and of which a lirief report has already been telegraphed.

The outbreak, the origin of which remain* a mystery, i- believed to have started at' 7.311 p.m. According t,, n University student, who :it that hour was passing the hostel in company with several acquaintances, llaracs were observed tn illuminate the window of a room 011 the northern side of the hniiriinjr. Then t lie air w.is rent witli a piercing scream, which appeared I>> come from the direction of the hurnins room. The party rushed into the htiiUlinn and rapidly 'ascended tlir stairs, '.nit when tlie third floor whs reached progTesn became diHicull on in- ,- count of tliß presence of heavy volume* of smoke.

Screams could still be heard, and II seemed that the voice was that of a woman. The men adopted a crnwlinp altitude , ;ui(l gradually approuehed the room. The sight which met the eyes ot the nearest was a never-to-be-forgotion one. The partly-opened door revealed an interior which was a veritable furnace, (which sent forth an almost illlbearable heat. One of the party railed out: -I- anybody there?" There was no reply.' The call was repeated, hut still no response was made. To have entered the room at that stage would have been to court almost certain death.

When the llames had been subdued. Superintendent T-iit. of the fire hrigatle. Sergeant Over. Detective Sinclair, and Constable Klunnery entered the room. On the lloor lay the dead body of a young woman. Her clothes were almost intact, but the body was charred in several places. The remains were identified as those of a Miss Gourly. 2:! years of nge. who arrived from Sydney by the I'limaroa only that morning. She had booked accommodation for the highi. and was to leave this morning by some outgoing vessel. The body was remove] to the morgue.

A DIFFICULT TASK. Great dillieiilty in reaching tin , seat of the. fire was experienced by tin , brigade. The. flames wore then confined to tlic one room, and as it was situate<l | on the top floor, and as t lit- nearest. I water hydrant was locator! in Welling-! tmi Terrace, a considerable length of huso bad to lie employed. A lead was i connected and carried, through the huild--111 tr by way of the stairs, and it was some time before the work could be emu-j meneod. Despite the delay. I lie brigade effected a good aye. Had 'the (ire taken j a creator hold the numerous noo.ienJ buildings in the vicinity would have had little chance of escaping destruction. The rooms and their contents on the top floor were almost totally destroyed, although in some cases the damage was done by water.

The upper storey contains ten bedrooms, -which provide jiceommodation for thirteen girls, but only three of the rooms were occupied. The inmates are heavy losers. Girls occupying rooms on the other floors succcedd in removing their helunjrinjss.

Arrangements were subpe-juently nwJ.' for the girls. A number spent the night f.t tin- residential quarters in Brougham Street, and some were provided for by a resident of Macdonald Crescent.

The matron of the institution Mates that she was seated in her room when the alarm installed on the premises gave warning of the outbreak of lire. She ran upstairs and thought that, the curtain in one of the bedrooms was alijr'.it. When the second storve was reached thick;

smok? wiis encountered, and she was compelled to return.

The building and contents were insured with the New Zealand and the Norwich insurant '■■uv.pa:;;,-.;.