RIVERTON HOTEL FIRE

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 31, 31 October 1929, Page 13

RIVERTON HOTEL FIRE

INQUEST OPENED . By Telegraph.—Press Association. Invercargill, October 30. The inquest on the victims of the Riverton Hotel fire was opened before the Coroner, Mr. Woodward. • a Daisy Bradshaw, employed as a cook, said she was aw’akened by a boarder callin" “Fire!” Flames and smoke were coming from the kitchen. She and the housemaid made their way to the front part, where the fire escape was situated, and the smoke was very dense there. She heard Mrs. Trembath call out twice, and saw Trembath come >ut of the smoke from the direction of his wife’s room, with a child in his arms. She thought Mrs. Trembath must have been separated from her husband by the flames. They were all in their night attire except Moses' Reed, a boarder, who gave the alarm. Trembath made a desperate effort to reach his wife’s room from a window, and sustained burns. William Mason, who said he occasionally acted as barman, stated he returned after midnight, when everything appeared safe. He was awakened by the call of fire. He swung out of a window on to a pole supporting the fire escape, and slid down it. He had no idea how the fire originated, nor where it started. The inquest was adjourned for the evidence of the licensee, who is still suffering from shock.