THE ISLAND BAY HOTEL

Evening Post, Volume XLI, Issue 149, 26 June 1891, Page 3

THE ISLAND BAY HOTEL

THE ENQUIRY. The inquisition on tbo recent firo which ooonrred at the Island Bay Hotel last Monday was commenced at the scene of tho firo at 10 o'olook this morning, before the District Coroner (Mr. H. W. Robinson, R.M.) and the following jury i— Mossrg. W. Lockwood (foreman), J. W. Braithwaito, C. Jamos, W. Mann, C. Marshall, and Charles Avis. Inspector Thomson was prosqnt on behalf of the police, and conducted tho examination of witnesses. Mr. Hadfiold watched tho proceedings on behalf of tho North German Insurance Company, who hold a risk from Christophor Hanseni tho licensee of the promises, and tho representatives of the other companies interested wero present. Hanson and his wife, who are charged with having wilfully sot fire to the building, wero in attendance, but not represented by counsel. , Tho jury having inspooted the rooms, the Coroner briofly opened tho proceedings, and tho following ovidonoo was then called : — Charles Snow, an officer of tho Salvation Army, was tho first witness called. Ho otated that about half past 3 on Monday aftornoon he was walking in the diroot'on of the beach in company with his neioo, when ho noticed an old man named Jaggorhorn, the servant girl, Mrs. Hanson, and a butcher named Bussell oarrying out furniture. Ho at first thought that they were moving, but on looking again noticed smoko coming from underneath tho wostern sido of the building. Witness ran around to tbo back, and, looking through tho window of a room on the ground floor said to bo occupied by Hanson and his wife ns a bedroom, he saw the wall on tho opposite side of tho room on firo. The room was full of smoke. Witness went inside tho hotol, nnd, going to tho door of the bedroom, found it locked. Hausen v/as standing near tho bar, in front of the bedroom door. Witness wont outside again for the purpose of obtaining wator, and found tho handle of the pnmp broken. Returning to the hotel he spoke to Hanson, and asked bimwhero water wa; to bo found. Hansen did not givo a satisfactory reply, and seemed so unconooncerned that'witnoss upbraided him, and asked why he did not give some assistance. Hansen swore at witness and struck him several times. Ho also threatened to punch witness' head if he did not clear "ont. Witness accordingly got out of his way and called to Bussell to assist in procuring some water. They then wont into the. sonllery and found water and two buckets. Returning to the back bedroom window, through whion witness had first noticed the fire, they broke the window and dashed water in. Finding they were not doing any good they searched for and obtained an axe, with which they broke in the door which was locked, and then were able to see that there were two separate fires in the room — one behind the door and another in the corner by the chimney. Before bursting open tho doorthoy asked Hansen for tho key, and he produced one which would not opon the door. While they were engaged in putting it out a man named Howard arrived. They got tho fire under with some difficulty, Hansen moanwhilo walking calmly about the passage smoking. Howard then ran up stairs and called out that there was fire thero. Witness accordingly went up, and saw smoko > issuing from No. 5 room, immediately above the room on firo downstairs. Tho room was looked, and they broke it open, but he did not remember finding any fire there, only amoke which came from tho room below. Howard, however, cut a hole in the wall with the axe, and poured water down. No. 6 room was full of smoke, but there was no fire thoro. Looking noxt through the keyhole of room No. 2, witness saw fire and smoko coming from underneath tho door. Hansen declared that there was no fire thero, saying, " It's all out now," and wanted them to go away. Witness insisted that there was firo, and broke opon the door with an axe. The room was full of smoke, and Howard rushed in with a buoket of water. Thoy found that the mattress, which was turned up on edge against the wall, was on fire, and the wall was also burning. Bussell assisted in subduing tho flames. In No. 3 room, which was not locked, they found the mattreas turned against tho wall, apparently having been set firo to, but it baa not burned. After this thoy looked about upstairs for further traces of fire, and observed smoke coming from underneath the door of room No. 1, which was also locked. Bursting it opon with tho axe the bedclothes wore discovered to be on fire, and Howard and Bussoll as well as tho servant and a jookey assisted in putting tho flames out. Hansen remained about, still smoking, but rendering no assistance After they had i.put out the fires they came downstairs and found Mrs. Hansen outside. Witness had previously noticed her about in the kitchen. She told Howard that she was mnch frightened at the fire, and had screamed for assistance when it was first discovered. Witness heard no screams when he first approached the building. Hansen offered no explanation as to how tho fires originated. Witness was of the opinion that ho must have been aware that there was a fire in the downstairs bedroom, near which they wero standing when witness first entered the hotel, as thero was a considorablo body of fire then. Tho orackling could bo heard very distinctly, and tho fire burst through tho wall while thoy were talking. When tho fires had been put out witness drove into town with tho butoher. They met the, Fire Brigade and Constable Carroll coming out. By the foreman— Tho furniture whioh was being removed when witness approached tho hotel consisted of pictures, chairs, a sowing machine, &o. Did not notice any bodolothes. By the Coroner— Witness said that in No. 1 room tho mattress appeared to have been torn, and the stuff it contained pulled ont. Was not certain whether the others wero in the some condition. They had to pull tho mattresses about in order to put the fire out. By a juryman — The servant girl appeared to be astonished that there were so many fires. To Mrs. Hansen— You did ask me when I came outside if all the fires were out, and I said yes. You said you were very glad of it. You did not ask mo to come up and help to save the house. In answer to the male prisoner, the witness said that he (Hansen) did not ask him (witness) to come and give assistance. Prisoner— l did. I called out, " Come in and holp me," nnd you would not. Witness— You did not, Alexander Bussel, butoher, in tho employ of the Happy Valley Meat Company, was under examination up to tho time of tho luncheon adjournment. His evidence generally corroborated that of Snow.

Laery & Co, will soil to-morrow, fruit, 40.