DEATH IN SHOP

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 112, 5 February 1931, Page 10

DEATH IN SHOP

Killed in Man’s Arms GIRL’S FATE Crushed Against Counter By Telegraph—Press Association. Dannevirke, February 4. Among those who were inside Roach’s, Ltd., buildings at Hastings when the earthquake started yesterday was Mr. Ernie E. Weston, managing director of ■Weston Bros., Ltd., Christchurch. To a "News” representative Mr. Weston related his trying experience. “I had just completed my business when I felt the preliminary movement of the 'quake, and one of the female assistants rushed to my arms. I endeavoured to pacify her, remarking that all would be over in a second; but then the big crash came. Suddenly one of the steel pillars fell right across the girl’s body, and she was crushed alongside a counter. She pleaded for freedom, but the big pillar held her in such a position that in a moment life was gone. I realised that I had missed death by inches. Terror-stricken. “Looking round I observed daylight shooting through the debris. I then crawled and managed to get out. Everywhere there were poor souls panic and terrorstricken. Appeals for help were coming from everywhere, and in what was once the boot department one could observe the figure of a man desperately fighting for life. Help was beyond question. “In one corner fire broke out, but an appeal for buckets brought little response among the panic-stricken community. It was an appalling sight. With others I was able to assist in lifting a heavy beam from across the shoulders of Mr. Gerald Roach, and he was lucky to crawl out alive. “As the fire engines were pinned in at the station, and as the water mains had burst, there was little that could be done with the hose that was available. It was a shocking position to be in when one considers that only a few moments previously the usual business atmosphere had prevailed. “After many tense moments during the afternoon,” continued Mr. Weston, “there were two short and sharp shocks between 8 and 8.30 last night. That added more fuel to the catastrophe. The Grand Hotel then commenced to burn and this, along with the other pitiful sights, was heart-breaking, particularly as the community was practically powerless. I summed up the position, and with my wife decided to camp for the night in the park. “It is remarkable to find that among all the conflict three churches still remain intact —the Church of England, built of ferro-concrete; the Roman Catholic Church, built of ferro-concrete; and the Salvation Army Citadel, a singlestoried brick edifice. The latter has not even a window broken. “The whole affair makes a sad and depressing picture,” concluded “and I have no desire to undergo another experience like that. When Roach’s crashed many of the staff never had a chance. Some probably would have saved themselves had they sought shelter under the counters, but no one ever thought that such a big shake was coming.”