A SENSATIONAL FIRE.

Evening Post, Volume LXII, Issue 127, 25 November 1901, Page 5

A SENSATIONAL FIRE.

♦ THE ORIENTAL HOTEL BURNT. NARROW ESCAPES FROM THE FLAMES. THREE MEN BADLY INJURED. One of the most sensational fires yet experienced in Wellington occurred jusfc after 2 o'clock this morning, and resulted in the destruction of the Oriental Hotel. This popular house was situated in the centre of the business portion of Willisstreet, and on its eastern side. It was built over twenty years ago, and for a time was known as the Melbourne Hotel. Constructed of iron and wood, it was three stories high in front, and ran right back to the rough, rock-faced bank which juts out from Boulcott-street. The building contained some 50 rooms, of which 40 were lised as bedrooms, and the narrow and tortuous l passages were ever a source of fear to the nervous lodger. During last week the Oriental was crowded with visitors who were attending the races. All the bedrooms were fully occupied, and there ..were also nine extra "shakedowns." Considering the number of people in the hotel, it is a marvel that all the inmates escaped with their lives. THE OUTBREAK. ' . According to our information, two of the boarders wete "having a yarn," when they smelt pungent smoke, and immediately called the night-porter, a negro, who rushed through the corridors giving the alarm to the lodgers. Several persons went to the fire-alarm box attached to a post opposite the hotel, and found that the glass had already been broken. Nightwatchman M'Vicar states that ho saw the fire from Upper Willis-street, and gave an alarm from the alarm on the Duke of Edinburgh" corner. It appears that the Brigade received alarms from various quarters, and some critics have declared that the brigade was consequently confused, but the reply of- the firemen is that they saw the fire* immediately upon , leaving the station, and were on the spot in a very short time. The trouble seems to have been that the alarm was late in reaching the station, and advocates ,of the watch-tower system again raised their j protests this morning * against the action of the City Council in dispensing with the nigbt-watchmab. in the tower. FIGHTING THE FLAMES. When the brigade reached the scene of the fire the whole building was wrapped in flames, and' most of the inmates had made their escape. The firemen worked round the hotel by passing through the adjoining premises, and alsd had a lead of water from the bank at the rear. Superintendent Hugo and his men, whilst keeping a sharp look-out and taking many risks in the interests of the people in or about the buildings', Jiought the flames strenuously. In view of the fact that a stiff southerly breeze was blowing and that many of the adjacent buildings are old and inflammable, it stands to their credit that the fire did not spread. As it it, the hotel, including the florist's shop (The Geisha), occupied by Miss Murray, is completely destroyed, and heavy damage has also been done to Mr. Grady's I jewellery shop on the south and the premi ises occupied by various business people { next door to the hotel on the northern side. TRIALS OF THE INMATES. From the first moment of the raising of the alarm in the hotel the scene became one that is beyond description. Women screamed and men shouted, the great majority of the inmates , entirely ! lost their presence of mind, and pandej monium prevailed. It is generally agreed ' that the fire began about the centre of the house, and it would appear to have | spread first along the middle' flobr, lipon which there were many sleepers. Jthen the flames, which travelled with great rapidity, ran to the top floor, and persons who had rushed to the front of tie house in their search for means of escape found, on turning back, that a wall of fire barred their way. A way of escape was improvised for one party of eight persons from a bedroom overlooking the Geisha tea rooms. Mr. Arthur Law, who occupied that room, .with a friend, was awakened by the entrance into the room of several frenzied people seeking to get through 1 it into Willis-street, which the room- overlooked. The young men helped several people down a rope into the street. Among those thris rescued was a woman, who was clad in her nightdress only. One man wli6 came into the room could not patiently await his turn at tha rope, and strove to go back to another part of the building. But Mr. Law and nis friend, seeing the flames in the passage, forcibly detained him, and eventually got him into the street. SOME THRILLING ESCAPES. By this time the other inmates of the hotel, not finding the ordinary means for escape, were getting out of the furnace in the speediest manner. Sparelyclad men and women leaped from windows without looking where the leap would take them. They did not hesitate to jump from the third story, and with shrieks which were awful to hear would let themselves go into* space. Some broke their falls upon the roofs of the outhouses, and so got to the ground safely. .The marvel is that so many who took such leaps in the dark should have escaped without broken limbs. Mr. Bltinchard jumped from the top floor into the backyard without injury. As it was, there were not a few twisted ankles and wrenched wrists. Messrs. J. D'Arcy, Wm. Crawford, and Charles Bell were those most seriously injured as a result of landing awkwardly after their jumps. Mr. Bell, who is a son of Mr. James Bell of the Ada Delroy Company, jumped from one landing in the hotel to the lower floor, and fell upon his head, inflicting such injuries that he had to be taken to the Hospital. REFUGEES' EXPERIENCES. As seen from Eoulcott-s£reet,.the scene was startling in the extreme. The flames drove most of the inmates towards the back of the premises, and as thrv got away both men and women cla: bered up the face of the bank, which was exceedingly rough to the feet, and, even in daylight, presents a difficult climb. Some who escaped that way reached Boulcotts(ieet, and found refuge in houses there. Others clambered along the face of the bank, and passed several back yatds of shops until they came to a long ladder which provided a convenient means of getting once more to the street level. By this nieans a number of men and women, most of whom were clothed only in night dresses, reached the back of Mr. Richard Browri's premises. Some were taken in and attended to hospitably by the proprietors of the Welcome Restaurant, and others went on to the Britannia Hotel, where they were well treated. The morning was bitterly cold,

and the women who had thus escaped were bleeding from feet and hands, having been cut and bruised during their exciting clamber over the rocky banks. THEATRICAL SUFFERERS. Quite a number of theatrical people were staying in the Oriental Hotel last night, and nearly all saved little but the clothes they went to bed in. The inmates included members of the Ada Delroy Company, the Empire Specialty Company, the Waldorf Dramatic Company, and the Dii Gaiety Company. Mr. Packer, who had been staying for some time at the hotel with his daughter, who sings with the Empire Company under the name of Miss Beryl Gilman, had felt nervous, about the safety of the hotel, and had made' up his mind to seek fresh and safer quarters this week. A member of the Delroy Company escaped in a pair of trousers and singlet only, and lost all his belongings. One of the Empire Company, when alarmed, hastily put on a pair of trousers and seized another pair, and got into the street. His wife did not stay to gather up anything, being thankful to get away clothed as she Was in nightdress only. COOL ' CUSTOMERS. Several young men,- noted in town as being always well dressed, stayed to put on collars and ties, and appeared to-day as natty as ever, though they had lost many suits of clothes between them. One was accounted very lucky because he had been cool enough to carry off three of his suits of clothes. One of the party had a favourite dog, and just as ite owner was getting out of the window the dog whined. Going back, the young man got the dog. and threw it out into the arms of a policeman in Willis-street. A number of bookmakers were boarders' in the hotel, and it is reported that they all succeeded in escaping with their "books." . THE ADJACENT BUILDINGS. * The southward extension of the fire was confined to one building — Mr. Frank Grady's watchmaking and jewellery establishment. Mr. E. J. King's music shop, next in order, was only nominally damaged, a little water having come through. Mr. Grady was not in a position this morning to state either his loss or his insurance, but the top story is burnt out, and the whole stock on the ground floor has been immersed in the floods of water poured on the building. He thinks the loss will be double the amount of insurance. On the north side the flames met the brick wall of Messrs. Townsend and Paul's two-story building. The effect was that the fire swept along under the roof ana played havoc with the top-floor tenants' property, while smoke and water did their Work on the ground floor. The tenancies in the building are as follow : — On the top floor— Mr. D. C. M'Naught, manufacturing jeweller ; Mr. J ,H. Oak- ' ley, mandolin and guitar instructor ; Mr. Morris (Melbourne Watch Repairing Company) ; Messrs. I. and R. Morley, importers of hosiery and manufacturers' samples. On the ground floor — Mr. L. .P. Christeson, hairdresser and tobacconist; Mr. J. H. Robinson, watchmaker arid jeweller; Messrs. Davis and Harris, musio sellers ; and the Canada Cycle Company. Mr M'Naught's working stock of jewels and tools is reduced to the usual congjpmerate, and he cannot yet estimate his Joss. Mr. Oakley has lost his musical instruments, including three mandolins and five guitars, and estimates his loss at £25. His insurance is nil. Mr. Morris, who is also uninsured, has saved nothing intact, and places the damage at £300. Messrs. Morley have a policy of £800 in the Royal Exchange, and probably their chief loss will be the business one entailed by loss of samples, etc. Coming to the ground floor, Mr. Robinson has a risk of £400 in the Standard, • and estimates his loss by smoke and water at £600. The Canada Cycle* Company's manager wafe fortunate enough to be quickly on the scene, and he salvaged and carried to' safe storage the bulk of the stock, including 18 tricycles. Mr. Christeson's and Messrs. Davis and- Harris's are dripping with water, and the stock in each case must have fated ruinously. Cracks in the ceiling of the ground floor tenancies are the only indications of the fire itself. Messrs. Townsend and Paul have a policy of £2000 on their building in the' Royal. Mr. Paul considers that rebuilding will be to a great extent necessary arid puts the loss at close on £1000 above insurance. The only resident tenant in the building was Mr. Oakley, who was not f&ere last night, and wno has been burned out for the second time within four months. .Northward from Townsend and Paul's, the rooms of the Wellington Cycling Club haVe suffered through water coming through' the skylight. The damage is mostly confined to the billiard tables, which, notwithstanding blanket protections, are soaked. The cloths of the two tablftj each cost £25, and were brought by Mr. John Roberts a year ago. They are destroyed,- and it is feared that the slates are also spoilt and that the wood has shrunk. THE 1 ORIENTAL AS A BAD RISK. When Superintendent Hugo took charge of the Wellington Fire Brigade he visited the principal buildings of the city and all the hotels. One of the first places that struck hint as being dangerous for inmates was tho Oriental Hotel. Its intricate passages; and lack of means of escape made it what he termed "a bad risk." When he was appointed Fire Inspector for the city under last year's Municipal Colorations Act, Superintendent Hugo remembered this fact, and' the owners of the Oriental Hotel were the second proprietary to be served with' notice that they must provide proper means of escape in case of fire. He informs us that at the time of the fire the hotel had not bften equipped with the * proper facilities, it would be well if I the owners of other hotels in the city that have not been brought up to date in the matter of fire-escapes now made some haste in supplying the need. A member of the Fire Brigade who lived in the Oriental at the time of the outbreak, found the fire-escape in flames when he sought att outlet this morning, and he was one of those who took a leap in the dark, and caijte a nasty cropper. But lie managed to climb up to Boul-cott-street aim was able, to take part in the bperations with! his comrades. ' MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. Mrs. Watson, licensee of the Oriental, is a serious loser by the fire. She had the whole of Saturday's takings in her room at the time of the outbreak, and in her efforts to rouse the people in the house and get them safely away she lost the opportunity of saving the money, or any of her effects. In fact, Mrs. Watson had a narrow escape, like so many others, in getting away alive. ♦ Whilst Mt. Wynn Williama was iriuking his Way to the fire this morning he met a stranger wandering about in a pitiable State near the Government Railway Station. The man was apparently bereft Of his senses witu. excitement, but indicated that he had escaped from the fire. Mr. Williams took him to the police station, where Dr. Henry was called m. The doctor dressed the burns and -wounds of the unfortunate man, who was in such a serious plight that he was taken to tho Hospital in an ambulance. Enquiries show that the stranger was Mr. Crawford, blacksmith, of Mastertou. On all hands praise is given for the excellent work done this morning by ti o members of the Fire Police. Their ser-

.vices ware especially helpful, as there this much valuable property lying about in the premises adjoining the hotel, and of these the Fire Police took charge Avhile Captain. Hugo and his men fought the flames. Indeed, one business mail, m testifying to /the value of the protective coups, said thiit in. trying to get into his shop ho was chftlenged no less than half a dozen times by the volunteer police. By their j vigilance everything valuable w|ts preserved tintil the owners themselves took charge. Among those who resided on the top iloor of the hotel was Mr. Frank Lewis, who was engaged as an amanuensis to the Hansard staff during the past session. He ,and a barmaid (iuiss Le Seur) reached safety by means of a rope. Mr. Lewis, who was clad only in a suit; of pyjamas, climbed up to Boulcotfc-street. Constable D. Ryan, after assisting several people to escape from the Oriental Hotel, was injured when returning to render further assistance. Some molten lead burned him badly, and a beam also t fell upon him, so that he will be incapacitated for duty for some little time. The Oriental Hotel was bought about four y^ars ago by Messrs. J. Staples and Co., who will rebuild it immediately — 'and of necessity in brick. Messrs. Tfcwnisend and Paul intend to resiore &eir jbribk structure at once. Mr. R. Brown writes: — "If -good old ■Peter Johnson, who for twenty years kept watch upon our sleeping, city, had been on duty in the Fire Brigade watchtower this morning, much damage to person and property would,, in the opinion of many, have been st^ed. Since he was retired property-owners and insur- " ance companies have lost heavily." There have been many rumours scattered throughout the cijjy to-day concerning .victims of the tire. One report said that five persons bad been lost in the flames, but the rfiost careful search and' enquiries have failed to substantiate the story. Mr. Aubrey Douglas, who had a. narrow escape, says be saw three faces at a window just before one of • the floors collapseS, but no trace can, be • found of any bodies. It would seem that despite many risks of getting lost in the tortuous pissages of the building every inmate escajped. That£ such, should • be the case is r&trvellous. THE INJURED AT THE HOSPITAL. t Four of the persons who took leaps injto the dark from the tipper -windows of the hotel or were burned by the flames had to be taken to the Hospital. On ringing up the institution this aiternoon we learn that Mr. Charles Bell received internal injuries, and is in a serious condition. He has not yet recovered consciousness. Sir. Crawford's condition is also serious, owing to bad burning. Mr.- D'Arcy is mainly suffering from shock, and Mr. Murphy, an employee of the D.1.C., received injuries to his elbows and knees. THE INSURANCES. The insurances on the Oriental Hotel ..ire Building, South British, New Zealand, and Commercial Union, £333 6s 8d each. The South British reinsurances nre £150 in the Imperial, £60 in the .Victoria. £50 in the Australian Alliance, and £50 in the Standard. The New Zealand reinsurances ai-e £#08 6s 8d in f ' the Liverpool and London and Globe. . find tie same amount in tbp North British. Contents, £1000 ip. the South British ; reinsurances, £188 6,8 8d in Im* perial, £190 in Victoria, £116 13s 4d in Australian Alliance, £M 6 13s 4d in.Standard. Total, £3500. Mr. Grady's insurances are — Fittings, £250 in the United stock, £3Ooin> Phoenix, £300 in South British, $&)0 in Norwich Union, £2Q'O in Victoria.; building, £600 in New Zealand (half* reinsured in Commercial Union). Mr. Christenson's stook aiid furniture', —£1000 in Royal Exchange (reinsurances, 1 £300 in Manchester and £200 in Liverpool and. LondoD and Globe). Canada Cycle. Company, £400 on stock and fixtures in Royal ; TownE/eik and Paul's building, £8000 ia Rqj4l> and R. Morley £8000 on stn,ojt in K&yss Exchange; Robinson's— St<Jck, £$©&* Standard; Wellington Cycling Qjub, £350 on contents in Phoenix ; Miss Murray (Geip^a rooms), contents, £300 in South Bi.itish— the shop is included in' the Oriental Hoiel building; t)avis and Harms stock, £lboo in Northern; hUuigs £ioo i n Northern. Messrs J. H. Oak-Jey and Morris (Melbourne Watch Repairing Company), are not insured. JJ- *-.. M'Naught is believed to have no, lnsju-Anoe. 1 oi^onn' aiOT ' fn insurances amount to £12,200. The hotel (i/iduding the tea rooms) is obviously a t<#al loss; ibut in the adjoining ground floor premises— Messrs; * Grady's, C'uristeson's, Robinson's, I}avJ} and Harris's — and in Messrs. J. and R. MorleyV^ an exact assesment of the damage c?.n only be arrived at,. after minute inspection of the stock. Mr. Gr,ady anticipates a, loss of £2000 in stock alc.ne. The Canada Cycle Company's • 'loija, thanks to salvage operations, 'is (within the insurance. HELP FOR THE SUFFERERS. HUGE BENEFIT PERFORMANCE. In response to a general request, M7ss Janet Waldorf and her company, in conjunction with the members of Dixs Gaiety Company, the Empire Specialty .Company, and the' Ada Delroy Company, have kindly consented to give a. matinee benefit performance in aid of the sufferers by the conflagration at the Opera House on Satwday afternoon, next. Many badly distressing caees have, lieen reported, needy pe/jple having lost their all in the flamesl and by those who suffered by accident as weH urgent hejp is required. It is to be hoped that these will be a, response- op. "tlie part' of jthe public to the gene/oujs offer made. So as to gfte all an o pppi&iH&fcy- of cp'ntilhotiqg th'wr mite, ' tie lyices h'aye ■been fiSad as follows : — Dress .ciljele apd stalls, 2s ; family c'/ycle arjd pi£ %. The entertainment i#ill be uns©r the J?j**tfjJp-, age pf the Mayor of Wellington • anfrcSirk Jofceph W/ard. ' \ FIRES INI OTHtER PLAjCES. . fBI TELEaaiiPH. — PRESS ASBOCIATIOH.] AUCKIjiAND, This v Day. A five-roomed house in Nelsop-streeb, 'owned by Mrs. Keenkn, and occupied % [Mr. Wobd%-, w^as fjfesteoyed by fire last .evening. A littler" furniture Wias KQ,ve,d. The hoiisewas injured f6r £2tiO in %s. Manchester office, and the furniture for £200 in the Sun. f DUNEDIN, This Day. A private telegram received in' town ndvises that the Pulierau Hot^l has been totally destroyed by fire. { NELSON, This Day. t Messrs. Robertsc/n Bros, timber factory was destroyed by fire early this morning. It is supposed the fire was caused by a spark from the engine whilst the fireman was at breakfast. The damage amounts to between £2>jOO and £3000. Insuran«eg '— Royal, £5Ci); Norwich and Imperial, £350 each. Damage to the extent of about £50 w*s done to a workshop belonging to Mr. Peart, engineer, who is uninsured. There was an outbreak of fire at JJ o'clock this morning in the washhouse attached to a house in Willis-street occupied by Mrs. Wilkie. A spark from the fire had fallen into a basket of clothes. Very litt'/e damage was don/ 3. The contents of the place were insured fo: £50 in the Norwich Union office.