MAN BURNT TO DEATH

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25253, 4 August 1947, Page 6

MAN BURNT TO DEATH

FIRE DESTROYS HOTEL AT OHURA

ADJOINING BUILDING GUTTED

(P.A.) NEW PLYMOUTH, August 3. The charred body of John Alexander McKain, a miner, of Ohura, was found in the wreckage of the Grand Hotel, Ohura, after fire destroyed the building, which contained 20 rooms and two shops, early on Saturday morning. All other occupants escaped without injury, except Mr G. King, aged 71, of Taumarunui, who suffered concussion’fend shock when he jumped from a first-floor balcony to the street. An adjoining building used as a printer’s shop, and containing residential quarters, was also gutted. The fire started in a first-floor room occupied by Mr D. Fitzgerald. Wakened about 3.45 a.m. by smoke, Mr Fitzgerald* left his room to investigate, and when he returned a few seconds later he found flames shooting up the wall separating his room from that of Mr McKain. He raised the alarm, and as occupants rushed for safety flames burst from the windows and spread along the corridors and into the lower floor. The boarders had no chance to gather their possessions. Cut off from the stairways, men clambered on to telephone line polei and veranda posts and slid to safety. When all the occupants except Mr McKain were clear of the building flames had spurted through the windows on both sides of tne building. With no fire brigade and only low pressure in the water mains, it wai not possible to do any more than organise a bucket brigade in an endeavour to save a nearby bach and outbuildings. The flames quickly spread to the adjoining shop and residential build‘"it was not until a check of the occupants was made that it was discovered that Mr McKain was missing, but a search was then impossible. A police party combed the wreckage later In the morning, and found the body on a wire mattress on the floor below h’owned by the Rosevear Estate, the hotel was leased by Mr E. Bromwich. The two shops were occupied by a fruiterer and general storekeeper and a radio dealer and bus proprietor.