MANSION GUTTED

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 121, 16 February 1926, Page 7

MANSION GUTTED

WITH' LOSS OF FOUR LIVES

VALUABLE WORKS OF ART DESTROYED

(Rec. February 15, 8.10 p.m.)

London, February 15. Four fatalities occurred at a fire which gutted Oultou Hall, near Tarporlev. Cheshire, the ancestral home of Sir Philip Grey-Bgerton, destroying most of the art treasures therein, which included many fine pictures, some bv Rubens and Landseer. A band of people was in the grand salon attempting to salve the pictures when the roof collapsed, cutting off the escape of two men and two women, who were incinerated. Several others were injured, two seriously. 'Che Hall was occupied bv a Manchester ironmaster. to whom it was lent by Sir Philip Grey-Egerton, who left Cheshire on Friday for Nice.—Reuter. ] (Rec. February 15, 8.15 p.m.) London, February 15. Sir John Vanbrugh was the architect of Oulton Hall, which was one of the show houses in Cheshire, standing in a magnificent Acer park of 350 acres. The fire began in the upper part of the house, spread with lightning rapidity and soon was a roaring furnace, but the treasures of art were so valuable and numerous that there was a great temptation to try to save them. To the the last moment there was a patty of servants in the grand salon, which was a noble room of black and white marble, pulling down pictures and priceless panelling. When the ceiling crashed only those near the windows were able, by breaking the glass, to escape. Two maids ran to an upper room to try to save valuables, but the floor fell, precipitating them into the burning debris. Much fine carved woodwork was lost, also famous panels of Chinese lacquer.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.