CLOSE CALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 141, 17 June 1939, Page 12

CLOSE CALL.

NEARLY TRAPPED.

WAIHI FIRE DRAMA.

FIVE PEOPLE ESCAPE. 300R SMASHED TO GIVE EXIT

( Hy T«iojjr»|ili Own Correspondent ) WUHr, thin day. I «n Mini. H woiii.m Hnd two children urn' II cut nil llyurc* in a hoarding--1 ci- lire drama in Waihi early this i mug. A liiwirdcd-up door had to be i-nhmlii'il down Define, thry niado their niii low e»<-ii|>e from the flumes. Awakened suddenly at about Ave iiVlnck by tho xiiioll of smoke and the iiui-p of lire, the inmates of the Kosciii..lit Hoiirdinghotifte, which i« in a ii'iitnil |t>sition ia tlie town, closely iidjnining (.iambic's drapery premises, li.uiid tliemselve* on tho verge of being trapped by a lire which had developed piiii't ically into a roaring inferno. ( impleMy taken by Mirprise, the pioprlotnr, Mr. Frederick Cornes, a retired miner, together with his wife and two children and a boarder, Mr. C.

Angle, found difficulty In making a safe I exit from tho burning building. To fiirilitiitn their escape through one of | (lie bedroom«, occupied by Mr. Angle 11 nil ii. Imiv, Mr. Coincs irfin forced to «iiiiiili down an old door in the bedroom which hud been nailed up on the sido of the house. Woman Near Collapse. He said that, after he had accomplished this, a sheet of flame swept through tho paesageway and bedroom. Mrs. Cornes, who had been indisposed, became extremely distressed and was on tho verge of collapse. Mr. Comes added that he found great difficulty in awakening Mr. Angle, who was a heavy sleeper, dm) getting him outside. Eventually, however, all made their escape without serious injury. The fire brigade found the place completely dominated by flames, but di* splendid work In getting the outbreak in hand and preventing it from spreading to the adjoining premieos. Tho origin of the fire was evidently nt the back of the premises. The building was completely gutted throughout, except for rooms in the front portion of the house. The property I* owned by Mr. Peter McGregor, of Auckland. Mr. Cornes has insurance of £250 with the Alliance Office over his furniture nnd effect*, all of which were practically destroyed.