FIRE AT LANGLEY'S STABLES.

Bruce Herald, Volume VI, Issue 403, 31 January 1872, Page 3

FIRE AT LAN GLEY'S STABLES.

INQUEST CONTINUED,

George W. Langlev. 'sworn — I am landlord •'of the White Horse Eotel On Friday, the I9th January, about 20 L minutes to 1 o'clock I was at my desk behind the bar writing. I observed a number of men running, in confusion, T went but at the side door, looked in direction they were running and saw smoke coming out from under eaves and through . the ridge of the stable, near the end next Abercrbmbie street — ran towards stables and ■called to get the horses out. I let some of the horses out myself and went back to get another one out, but in consequence of the flames I had to abandon her— l got another ■ one out afterwards belonging to Mr Crocome. The flames and smoke were so thick then that it was impossible to remain any longer. I then' came outside and gave what directions I couldto forming lines of to various 'wells about, and brought as much water as 'we could to bear on the fire. Seeing we • could' not save the stables. I gave orders to pull down adjoining premises, and so confined the fire to the one spot. I lost in forage, harness, and stable furniture as per "detailed statement L 122 17s. mare Ll6,

buildings, my property, not insured £140. 3 "^can give'no idea as to origin of fire. As far as I k'toow, and'to the best of my belief, I was -the last person in that end of the loft. About -3 o'clock the day before I was taking in hay ■' and chaff wheD T was called away leaving the 'men at work. I went back afterwards and the were finished taking in the hay, clearing •up the loft, and had filled the racks with hay 'which is usually done once a day. Tasked '•the men if they had made all thinss square, '■ meaning, done what they had been told — "one of them said he thought so. I went up myself and looked about and walked down both sides of the loft, the centre being filled "with hay, and saw that everything was right. I do not'believe that any one was in the loft till after the Tuapeka coach came in next "day, when having a message for Pai'son-; by " the coach I went to look for him, I found . him in the loft in the end next the door 'sifting oats. I went up and talked to him a few minutes and left him, and did not go "near the stable again until the alarm of fire. I have had great experience in storing fodder. I do not think spontaneous combustion could take place. I have stored hay in warmer 'climates and districts, close to iron' without - any symptoms of ignition. If matches had 5; bpen spilt say out of a man's pocket and in Contact with iron, the heat might ignite them - — from the condition of the hay when it was !ta <en in it is impossible to have heated. So • direful was I, that about 1 cwt of hay that was slightly damp, I kept separate — being old hay there was very little possibility of • heating. A standing rule on my premises, well known to the men, was, that no smoking ■■ or naked lights were allowed in the loft. No : smoking : took place while the hay was b^ing •takenin. No further evidence offered.

The Sergeant stated 'that regarding a 'matter -which lie had referred to on last '-sitting of the inquest as being suspicions, and 'requiring further investigation lie had now to state, that after making further enquiries :i he liad not been able to obtain any evidence *that justified him, at least in the meantime, •"in attaching any great weight to the matter. The Coroner having indicated that the '••matter referred to was a piece of paper that •had been found with something written on it ; saict'he doubted very much if there was 7 any thing in it ; at all events it could not, as ~yet, be connected with any one, and summed "lip titef-'evidenc'e briefly, when the jury gave -an open verdict, " That no evidence of the ' origin if the sa id fire doth appear."