RESIDENT'S NARROW ESCAPE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 101, 22 January 1908, Page 7

RESIDENT'S NARROW ESCAPE.

j TAKES REFUGE IN A I'IT. | ■ A THRILLING STORY. Mastcrton, Januiirv 21. i Tho most soKsatiounl portion <rf tbu Nire> I aha fire was tbn escape from death bv burn- I ing of JS. mwagßrjrf Nxrwha 1

r t I . '. ■ : . . . i Dairy Factory, whoso house and furniture ; were totally destroyed; and who only Saved i his life bv taking refuge in a small pit, dug : by himself in the school grounds. x >-■ Mr. Chow was a closo prisoner in this holo ; for nearly fivo hours, and when found: ho r was in a state of severe exhaustion. When interviewed this evening' at Mr. J. ■Ash- . ... • down's residence, lie was in a weak state, ; showing the trial he liad undergone. His ' description of his experience was given plainly, but is graphic to a degree. "We wero to havo packed choose'for Wellington this morning," ho said, "but decided to do. the work last night. Consequently I did not get up this morning till G o'clock. . The fires were burning rather smokily as_l i commenced to get my breakfast, hut I "did V," not ,tako' much. notice. .Then suddenly, the f'. • ilamos seemqd to.como all around. '. : 1 "I nished to <rct' some water to put out some burning wood work, but the smoke was suddenly overpowering, and I-made off, surrounded by ' Annies. I thought of running L . through to the bush and train, but as the i place seemed full of fire I thought it better to make'for the open. It.'.'was'.then, getting very warm.. My liouse ! was. on fire, with flames and smoke in all directions. I made a rush for the school ground, opposite my . place. - . '. "I knew that there' were, some garden tools 111 tho lavatory, and I thought I might dig v a cave. I could neither getnorth, south, : east, nor west 1 . ThenJl ran iover to a ; tank to let tho water go, thinking 1 might crawl into the iron Teceptacle. The water ran too slow, and I could not pull the tank down, 80 I made a rush into the school, got hold of a spado, pulled my clothes' off, soaked them in, water, and put them on again. : vSparks were falling around in all directions. Then I ran . into the school, and as the door slammed, I heard the building catch fire, . with crackling flame. ' "I conid not open the door, and in'desperation smashed it in with the spade. I got out, but tho smoke was then so thick that I * could not see my hand in front of me. A few yards in the school grounds I put. in my spade, and by degrees mado a hole. I - scratched and dug, with tlic sparks falling all around. It took mo all iny.time to get breath. : There 'were Jvb' buildings on ,fire, all around me in an area of less than two !'.■ acres, and the Jiusli blazed everywhere. My- : ! singlet got so dry that I was afraid of it catching alight, and pulled it off. But the sparks fell on my bare skin, and I wrapped tlio.coat and singlet over my head. I could see only the flames as the buildings.fell. I huddled into the hole, which.was arched at the side for 'my head, and then ,1 1 must have drowsed. Later I heard a mail galloping along the road,: after which some.people appeared to pass along the road. [It was. ascertained that this was the search party. led by J. Ashdowu, looking for,,Chew.]l ' '{lid not make any stir, but.some time later; when they came along again, T shouted .to. them, and they came across, vcr.v.iniich surprised to see me.. When, I was-in. theUiole. ■ ' with tho smoke and sparks all around, and - my. breath .coming..in .gasps, 1 thought it was all up with me. All I saved from the house were my coat, singlet, and trousers, •" and a'pair .of old hoots. I .am" a 'teototaller, but after coming,from the pit'l drank fi/full glass of whisky arid/never felt it." ■.' ' ■ Mr. Chew had an ' insuranco of £500 on f nis furniture, but estimates his loss at £100., Mrs. Chew was away at Carterton at the ' ' time of the fire. The pit ill j which Mr. Chew had such an ■ experience was 3 feet long by 2 feet 6 inches deep. . !■ " j— . ' ! . ■ ' FURTHER PARTICULARS. •; ! (BY TELEGRAM—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) j Eketahitna, January .21. ' The heavy wind last'night again freshened tho fires, and dense columns, of smoke hung over tho whole district. < ; .. Lighted: timber is being blown over,'tho houses within the borough .area, and is starting small' fires among dry ' reeds and, logs, in tho paddocks, hut .they are not dangerous at present.' Tho borough employees'are en--gaged in putting out incipient'fires'in open sections. ' ' . ' ■ • ■ ' Tho wind is increasing, after, having slightly cased. ;. TIGHT AT 'RONG OKOKAKO. " At Rongokokako tho firo is ■ spreading rapidly. Settlers and a relief party are fighting tho. flames. Many suppliers wero unable to tako their milk to'the Olio' shed was burnt this morning, and the school, , . and dairy factory are threatened. . ~ , Settlers have been digging holes ami bury-, ing their furniture, in anticipation of' the > lire becoming moro severe. \Tho wind later in the day eased slightly, and with the efforts of the workers the posi- : tion of tho factory has been rendered safer, .' though the firo got within thirty yards'of it. It is still being carefully watched.. AT NIREAHA. ' At Nireaha terrible damage lias been done. The firo swept with such force that all. efforts ' to check it'wero unavailing. Tho school and, tho teacher's residence, the manager of tho i , IS'ireaha Co-operative Cheeso Company's : . • honse, and the following settlers' houses wero destroyed Messrs. Hansen, Alberthsen,. Goodin, Sacy, and Hiisst.' •, A number of huts and outbuildings ai I Alberthsen's timber mill are believed to be !.. destroyed. A young lad is reported to be missing. It is impossiblo to ascertain tlio full damago in tho district. ' Tho wind'. 'changed slightly and made the position a littlo less - ; severe. A iiumbei> of men afe watering the .Nireaha Co-operati'vo Cheese* Factory, which was unablo to take any milk this morning. . Later'.advices stated that ;the, fires N at' Nireaha. wero jit the worst. Tho llames are i now within twenty yards ,of the store and post-ollice. The smoke is so thick that it is ■ impossible for settlers to communicate with each other, consequently tho damage is linascertainable. It is known'that tho liouso owned by Ur. Hansen is destroyed. No j mails were able to get through to-day. OTHER RETORTS. : Tho position is extremely serious at Mangamaiioe. There is a mass of flames round the place, and the 1 church is threatened. Settlers'are all busy protecting their homes. / i Settlers in Mangaoronga are unablo, to reach town. It is feared" the fire is strong there. An eliort is being made to reach them from Eketahuna. At Newman tho fires appear to bo spread- ' ing over a good few farms. Advice received last night by ( the polico gives tho nanio of the missing bov as Watereus. ' . FIERCE FIRES AT PONGAROA. (BY TEl.EGßAriL—srnci.ll, COnitESPONDHMT.) Pongaroa, January-21. Fierce fires are raging iii the Poiignro.i listrict. Mr. Gardner's sawmill is in danger. ilr. Shndholt has been nearly ,siiffo-. ' catcd. The • bridge lias boon burned, and the ryad to Waiono is impassable. MAXAWATU GORGE (E7 TELEGP.AIMI—SPECIAL COEIIESI'OJJDENT.) Palmerston North, January 21. Passengers in the trains report that a .jtrong firo is burning in the Gorge; which will iertamly destroy a large portion of tho beautiful scenery. Tho surroundings are i still obseurcd in Rn:oke, and comniuuications with Woodvillo Eoveal the fact tnat' it is almost impossible to see in the vicinity of the fire. The strong wind which is blowing has brought tho firo across from the I'ahiatua side of tho ranges. Damage to tlio small bridges is reported. The,smoke is almost blinding the passengers )assing through in tho trains.