TRAPPED IN FIRES

Evening Star, Issue 22988, 20 June 1938, Page 1

TRAPPED IN FIRES

ONE MAN BURNED TO DEATH AHOTHER'S NARROW ESCAPE [Pee United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, June 19. Fire destroyed the Commercial Hotel at Waihi early this morning. One of the boarders, Frederick Miller, a single man, aged 25 years, was trapped in his bedroom and was burned to death, the charred remains being found when the fire was extinguished. The deceased came to Waihi three weeks ago. He was employed as a miner at the Martha Mine. He previously lived at Waiutu and at Dunedin. Miller occupied a room off the upstairs lounge in the centre of the building immediately above the seat of the fire, which started on the ground floor. The alarm was given at 5.30 a.m. by the barman-porter. It is understood tbat the hotel was recently purchased by the Dominion Breweries Ltd. Other guests escaped. in their night attire. Trapped in a blazing house while asleep in front of a fire, James Brown, of Huntly, had a narrow escape from death early last evening. In making his way out through a window he received severe burns, and was later admitted to the Waikato Hospital. The house consisted of three rooms, and was o)vned and occupied by Mr Brown’s brother and sister-in-law, Mr and Mrs Sydney Brown, both of whom were absent at the time. Mrs Brown went out about 6 p.m. to visit some friends, and an hour later James Brown awoke > to find the whole room in flames. His only hope of escape was to climb throught the window, and as he did so his clothes caught fire and were burned from his back.

Nothing could be done to save the house, which was destroyed with its contents.