Another Fire in Hastings.

Hastings Standard, Issue 90, 10 August 1896, Page 3

Another Fire in Hastings.

MR ROWLANDS' COTTAGE

TOTALLY DESTROYED

At five minutes past 8 o'clock last night the congregations occupying the various churches were startled by the clanging of the ti rebel!, and instantly all who had interests at stake in the town rose and hurried out with all tie speed consistent with common decency. The fire turned out to be on the premises of Mr Thomas Rowlands, a fourin Terrace road, which at the time the bell rung was enveloped in flames and beyond "the aid of the Brigade, who, with Captain Brausch in command, arrived on the spot with their usual promptitude. Fortunately, the house being a detatched one, no anxiety was felt for the safety of the adjoining buildings, and the efforts of the brigade were directed towards drenching the outskirts of the fire and saving the out-building, in which was stowed whatever little furniture was saved. The work of the firemen was of course all performed with buckets, owing to the scarcity of water in the vicinity and the consequent impractibiiity of using the engine. It appears" Mr Rowlands with his family left home to attend church, leaving his daughter a young woman of about 22, alone in the house. At slightly before half-past seven o'clock she left home, turning down the lamp in the front room, but not totally extinguishing it, and going out for a walk. She knew nothing of the affair until she heard the fire-bell. There was a fire burning in the grate of the front room when Miss Rowlands lefts, but she does not think it could have proceeded from that source, and is more inclined to think that by some means or other the lamp caused the fire. Mr Rowlands lost all his furniture, with the exception of a few matrasses and odds and ends, which were saved mainly through the exertions of Mr C. Holroyd. The Northern Assurance hold a risk on the premises for £125, and the furniture was insured for £SO in the same office.