HOTEL FIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 118, 21 May 1931, Page 7

HOTEL FIRE.

BIG WELLINGTON BLAZE

SIX PEOPLE IN HOSPITAL WOMAN RESCUED FROM PARAPET. OTHER BUILDINGS AFFECTED. . (By Telegraph.—rress Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Panama Hotel at the corner of Taranaki and Vivian Streets, a twostoreyed wooden building, was totally destroyed by fire, which was discovered at about three o'clock this morning. When the brigade arrived the building was totally enveloped in flames. Six people are in hospital suffering from burns or from the effects of smoke. Mrs. H. Hyde was rescued just in the nick of time from a parapet between two floors. Those injured are: — Karl Kraus, badly burned, condition serious. Miss Margaret Park, severely burned about the face and hands, and suffering from shock. George Michael Skene. Harry Hyde, John Joseph Crowley and Miss R. Jones (a cook at the hotel), suffering from burns and smoke. Fireman J. de Winter and C. Flashoff, slightly burned, but aWe to carry on. Constable J. Edwards, of Mount Cook station, burned hands and treated by free ambulance. A strong north-west wind was blowing and carried the flames to adjoining buildings on both sides of the street, the brigade being called upon to deal with several small outbreaks. At the same time a two-storeyed wooden building adjoining in Taranaki Street, which was used as a Chinese laundry, was also destroyed. Practically nothing was saved, either from this building or from the hotel. Woman Waits for Ladder. When the brigade arrived there was no hope of saving the building, from every window and door of which flames were issuing. Fire engines and a big ladder were rushed to the scene. On the arrival of the first engine, the licensee's wife, Mrs. Hyde, was seen on the parapet between floors, surrounded by flames and smoke. She did not respond to the crowd's cries to jump, but wisely waited for the ladder.. The task of getting her safely to the ground was attended by considerable risk to the firemen, and the ladder was showing signs of catching fire by the time the rescue was effecte'd. . Several occupants of the hotel are said to have leaped to safety.

It- is believed the fire started on the ground floor, and it had a strong hotel before it was discovered, so that escape by, the stairs was cut off. i >•■■■