AN EXCITING TIME

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3025, 12 March 1917, Page 6

AN EXCITING TIME

FIRE IN A MILITARY HOSPITAL. ' The Oatland Park Hostel, near Wcybiidge, which has recently been taken over as a hospital for New Zealand troops, and which is a building of great historical note, narrowly escaped destruction by fire at 10 o'clock on the night of January 9, but thanks to the prompt, alarm given by Pte. Allen Anderson, son of Mr. Allen Anderson, grocer, of Kent Terrace, the ancient structure (which was a country residence of Henry VIII), was only damaged slightly in the upper pari. The "Daily Mail" says: "The Weybridge Brigado was summoned, and the patients were removed from the danger zone, whilst the mcro capable ones made use of the fire appliances. The damage was confined to the upper part of the building, comparatively little damage heing done."

In the course of a. letter to his mother, Pte. Anderson says: "Last night we had some excitement. About 10 o'clock, whilst I was in the pantry, I happened to look up, and through a crack in the ceiling noticed a light. On standing on the sink I discovered to my horror that tho roof was burning. I instantly fled down to Captain Ferguson, and coming back we met the night Sisters and Captain Ritchie, who rushed up and found my report to he only too true. The alarm was giver,,, and you can imagine the excitement! Two Medical Corps corporals, after breaking the roof open, got tho flameo under. By this time numbers of ladies had motor-cars waiting for tho patients, and the brigade csroe on the scene. It was a miracle the place did not go, as the wood is fairly old and there was a gale blowing."