FATAL FIRE.

Grey River Argus, 17 June 1922, Page 8

FATAL FIRE.

ELDERLY MAN’S DEATH. BOARDINGHOUSE DESTROYED. AUCKLAND, Juno 16. A fire attended with fatal results occurred in the early hours of this morning at the Sonoma Boardinghouse, Grey Street. The victim was Nathaniel Hayden, an elderly boarder, occupying a room on the top tloor. The Fire Brigade arrived al 1.20 a.m., and the upper floor was then in the grip of the flames. Hearing there was a man in a room on the top floor, they put up a ladder, and a fireman entered the room. He was overcome by fumes ami became unconscious. Constable Wilson, ran up the ladder and rescued the unconscious fireman. He returned to the room, was himself oxercome by smoke and had to bo got out in an unconscious condition by Driver Pardy. Recovering, he made a third entry into the room, this time discoverin'l' and removing the badly burned body of the victim of the tire, life being extinct. There were about 10 oilier boarders, al] **<>f whom escaped injury, though some had tu make their escape in night alt ire. Fireman Thompson, who was overcome T>y smoke, and Constable Wilson both recovered from llieir temporary unrons<-iousuess without ill-effects. The house is a two storey building occupied by Mrs Rae. The damage was confined to the upper floor. The furniture was insured for 1209. The dead man was a ship’s carpenter, a native of England, and had no rclaI ives in New Zealand.