FIRE AT MILTON.

Bruce Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 21, 17 March 1913, Page 2

FIRE AT MILTON.

P. LAFFEY'S .ROYAL HOTEL DESTROYED.

The Royal Hotel, situate near ,the railway station, Milton, and owned and occupied by Mr Patrick Juatfey, was completely destroyed by fire about 11 o'clock on Thursday night. The only persons in occupation at the time of tne outbreak were Mr and Mrs Laffey and their daughter, Miss Madge Laffey; the son Johu was absent in Duuediu. The tire, it is stated, was first discovered by the female occupants of the hotel, who discovered cnac some bedding in one of the upstairs rooms was- burning. They endeavored to extinguish n the smouldering bedding, but being unsuccessful, called in che assistance of a porter on night duty at the railway station adjacent, wno rushed across, seized the oedding and flung portion through the bedroom window, carrying the balance downstairs. On reDurning to the ground floor it was noticed that a bedroom, immediately below the upstairs room, was on lire, and the occupants had to beat a somewhat nasty retreat. The railway porter then rushed to the Fire Brigade Station,* and vigorously sounded the alarm—at 10.55 p.m. The members of the brigade and sev« oral friends were holding a smoke concert, and, incidentally, Mr Kirby was contributing the vocal solo "A soldier and a man," and had reached the words "The bugle calls, lie hastens forth," when the alarm rang out on the night air, and a general scatter resulted. Within a lew seconds tne lire-fighting ap« piiances were rushed out, and Hastened to the scene, but flames were then belching forth through some ot the windows fronting the railway station, and it was evident tne two-storied building, containing about 20 rooms was doomed to destruction. The engines were quickly got to work, but the lire spread rapidly, despite the utmost efforts of the Brigade, who were assisted by a band of willing workers from the large crowd which had collected gauiered tnrough the vigorous ringlug of the alarm.—Tney were present in various stages of habiliment, some having been aroused from their slumbers, and hastily gathered the articles of clothing within easy reach, and stood surveying the scene of devastation, utterly oblivious to personal appearances. Within a few minutes the fire enveloped the whole builidng, and the intense heat engendered thereby served to threaten che fire spreading to the. railway station builidngs at the southern end, and also Messrs Duthie and (Jo.'s grain store on the opposite side of the street, although the latter premises were regarded fairly sale, consequent_on the strong easterly breeze blowing, and required little attention from the Brigade. During the heat of the conflagration the hose was kept piayiug on the station buildings, and the hrenien had the gratification or noting their efforts successful in preventing the spread of the tire in this direction. Tne blistered state of the painted woodwork amply , demonstrates the probability of tliis building catching lire.

in abo.utj haif-an-hour nothing remaiued of this once well-known hotel, 'but a mass of burning debris, i'wo of the chimneys remained standing, but tivese were Knocked down ou Friday morning, to prevent possibility of danger to pedestrians. The Fire iJrigade, under Superintendent Sirupson, did excellent work, despite" the limited appliances at their command, and their efforts undoubtedly saved the railway station. Duildings. \ The building was insured for £750 and the furniture for £450, both risks being held by the Atlas uffice.