THRILLING ESCAPE

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 55, 7 March 1927, Page 10

THRILLING ESCAPE

TRAPPED BY THE FLAMES

(By 'Telegraph.—Press Association.)

, AUCKLAND, This Day. An outbreak of fire occurred in an eight-roomed two-storied house opposite the hospital in Park road at an early hour . yesterday inorning. W. MacDuS and \V. Burton were the only persons in the house at the time, and they were aroused soon after 2 o'clock by a loud crash and the smell of burning. They found the staircase,in flames and retreat in this direction was impossible They hastily gathered the sheets from the bods and tied them into knqts and lowered themselves to the ground 20ft below. The bedroom on the Graf ton bridge side of the house was saved, but the rest of the house' was badly damaged. , . ■'.'-.

Mr. and Mrs. C. M'Cready,' "the occupiers, had spent the week-end camping at Helensvillb,-and returned by motorcar at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon. They were unaware of tho fire until they had crossed the Graf ton bridge and saw. the crowd standing outside. On entering the front, door Mrs. M'Cready was bo appalled at the extent ot the damage "that she collapsed. Mr. M'Gready estimated damage to personal effects at £500. A pair, of bronze candlesticks believed to be ov<?r 100 years, old; and many other articles of valuo were lost.