Another Fire in Hastings.

Hastings Standard, Issue 84, 3 August 1896, Page 2

Another Fire in Hastings.

AN EMPTY HOUSE DESTROYED. At ten minutes past eleven on Saturdaynight the fire-bells announced that Hastings was adding another to her long list of conflagrations. The first report that Mr Gollan's stables were aflame sent streams of people hurrying in that direction, but a further rumor that it was only one of Mr Charlton's haystacks which caught fire stemmed the current of the crowd, and it was only the enthusiasts and those whom duty called who ultimately reached the scene of the fire. When the brigade arrived on the scene the cottage lately occupied by Mrs Mary Kemp, situated about two miles outside the town, was found almost burned to the ground. The cause of the fire is merely a matter of conjecture. The only facts that can be' ascertained are that about ten o'clock, when Mr Stayte, the next door neighbor, retired there was no sign of fire, and at 11.45 the flames had a firm grasp of the premises. Sergeant Mitchell who, with Constable Butler, was quickly on the scene, found a satchet containing two pipes, worsted, buttons, and other odds and ends of a swagger's outfit. This, together with the fact that Mrs Kemp's house has been a place of call for swaggers, to whom she extended a night's shelter and food in return for work, points to the presence of these travellers abont the place, who, it is surmised, might have set fire to the house accidentally. In the first instance the Fire Brigade turned out with the engine, but on learning the direction of the fire they left it behind and hurried forward to give whatever assistance they could. Owing to the absence of water in the viginity they were obliged, however, to enact the role of spectators. The Norwich Union held a risk on the building of £2OO from the mortgagees, Messrs Stainalrary and Logon, of Napier,