FATAL FALL.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19646, 15 June 1929, Page 6

FATAL FALL.

TRAGIC DEATH OF WAITRESS. FIRE IN AUCKLAND HOTEL. [THE PRESS ftpecUl 8«rtlo«.] AUCKLAND. June 14. Tragedy followed a are at the Hotel Cargen about four o'clock this mornins; when Miss Sadie Lynch, head waitress, terrified by the names which raged about her, fell from the tire «.L-aoe to the concrete basement 3>,it. ueloTand was killed, kittle, material aamage was done to the ouiiding or was discovered between 3.30 •ind 3.45 by the night porter, Mr J-G-iscoi'-ne, when doing, his rounds ot the budding. He bad completed a tour of the hotel and had Rone down to the main lounge when he saw billowing smoke but at the moment he could not locate the fire. As soon as he discovered the flames, which spurted through the ceiling, he rang.the Fin. Brigade, who arriTed within a lew minutes. His next step was to wake the manager of the hotel. Mr U Lund Even at this stag© it was not thought bv either the manager or the night porter that the fire was serious, for the flames they could see in the celling were onlv tiny ones. Mr Gascoigne rushed up on to tne landing from where the flames were comincr and opened the door of the room from where it was thought the fire had a hold. As the door was opened there was a roar of raging fire inside, then a terrifying explosion, and in a few seconds the corridor and landing were a mass of flame and smoke. The two rooms next to t, blaaine bed chamber were occupied by members of the staff, whom Mr Gascoigne roused. A man and a woman escaped without much difficulty. "1 raced up the stairs to the next landincr and awakened the rest of the staff." said Mr Gascoigne. 'Then 1 switched on the automatic fire-alarms and the clanging woke many of the people in the hotel. By then the Fire Brigade had arrived and within a few minutes the blaze was under control, and in a short time one would not have thought that there had been a Are at all. It all happened and was all over so quickly. T also went up on to the top floor to give the alarm, but three girls who sleep up there had gone. When Mr Gascoigne got downstairs again everybodv was safe, hut Mi«s Lynch could not be found Two qirls who work in the office, and whose rooms were next to Miss Lynch s, had escaped down the fire ladder. It was thought that Miss Lynch may h*.ve also escaped in this way. Some of the st*ff then began to search for her, and Rhe was found lying semi-Congous on the concrete basement which faces Short street. Thev managed to get her to her feet and gave her a glass of water. Everything possible was done by members of the staff to make her comfortable, but shortly after Dr. Wilkin arrived she died Tn the co-irse of her fall she had hit her head on a water cistern and was badly injured. She was unconscious before the doctor attended her. "It was a ghastl> thing," said Mr Gascoigne. "because there was no need for Such a tragedy. I pulled Miss Lvnch out of her room into the corridor and directed her to the balcony facing Eden Crescent. It seems that she went back to her room to do some nnckinsf, and frightened by the smoke wrnch was sweonins: through the corridor, she decided to out of her window and on to the fire escape. 1 don't thinU for a moment that "die : nmned. She must have been somewhat dazed. Tt is tnore likelv thnt she overand fell," There was a pheet found hangini from Miss Lynch's window and it is thought that she may have intended to lower herself bv this means, although the sheet was not tied on to anything. There were four fire eocaoes bv which *he could have got to safety. "Tt is a most resrrettable tragedy." «aid Mr Lund. "f»nd it is all the more tragic because there wrs absolutely no need for anv great alarm. Besides, there was really plenty of time to get to safety."