WELLINGTON FIRE.

Grey River Argus, 13 May 1929, Page 5

WELLINGTON FIRE.

i Railway Hotel. OLD LANDMARK DESTROYED. (Per Press Association).

WELLINGTON. May 11. One of Wellington’s oldest landmarks, the Railway Hotel, on Thorn<lon Quay, own-d by Mr James Dealy, was destroyed by a fire which broke out roon after half past one this afternoon. The building was an old wooden one. and ‘.he flames spread with great rapidity, and, despite the efforts of the fire brigade, which was on the scene a few minutes after the outbreak commenced, it was impossible to save the building. The fire, it was thought, originated in the washhouse. In a. flash the flames had penetrated to the front of the building,' giving those in the hotel no time to escape with any more than the clothes they were wearing. The cook, Mbs Campbell, had to be rescued from her bed, to which she was confined on account of a recent severe illners. One of Mr Dealy’3 sons made his way to her room as soon as the fiie was discovered, but by the time he had reached her, his means of exit had been cut off, and it was necessary for him to carry Mi's Campbell down the fire escape in the front of the building. Two girls employed in the hotel had to be assisted from the rear of rhe building, where they were engaged in their duties. There was no time to ’omove any valuables from the building. It is understood that there was a considerable amount of money in the safe, and it is known tha* there were many valuable papers. There were fairly large stocks of beer and spirituous liquors in the hotel building, and in the vault below.

The Railway Hotel wa- one of the eldest licensed houses in Wellington, and was a well-known landmark. Mr James Dealy has held the license ever r ince the building was erected, and he held the freehold of the land and building. Only a few weeks ago the hotel was painted and renovated generally.

The insurances on th? building and stock arc not vet available.