TRAPPED BY FLAMES

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 10, 13 January 1927, Page 10

TRAPPED BY FLAMES

COUPLE'S NARROW ESCAPE

HOUSE ABLAZE IN^NIGHT.

(By Telegraph.)' (Special to "The Evening Post.")

CHBISTCHUKCH, This Day.

Awakened just in the''nick of time, Mr. J. and Mrs. M'Kay, of, 793, Colombo street, had a narrow escape when their home caught fire early this morning. Wearing only their night attire, they climbed along the top of the verandah. ' .-■ For some minutes they were trapped in their bedroom on the second floor. Flame and smoke rushing up the staircase filled, the room, and escape was impossible by any other way than tho window. Mrs M'Kay tried to opea it, but it was stuck fast. Her husband tried to' close the door in the face of the flames, but such was /the pressure against him that all his weight was of no avail. . ,

Driven .from the doorway, he turned his attention to the window, which he eventually opened. By this time' Mrs. M'Kay was almost in. a"state"of collapse and her husband had to support her as they scrambled along the verandah to safety. Mr. M'Kay said this morning that he and his wife had gone to. bed early; and were 1, awakened about 1.30 by the sound of b/eaking glass. He found' the room filled with smoke and the names leaping up to the doorway. "We. had. a very close shave," he said. "We were lucky to escape at all." . '■ . The fire brigade prevented the 'fire spreading to the adjoining houses. 1 The back portion of the building was severely damaged, and the front rooms and those on. tHe second floor suffered badly. Ve/y little of the personal effects were saved. -"