Fire in Market Street.

Hastings Standard, Issue 241, 8 February 1897, Page 2

Fire in Market Street.

HICKEY'S BOARDING HOUSE

DESTROYED

A GREAT BLAZE

This morning at one o'clock the familiar tintinnabulation of the fire bell roused the slumberers of Hastings to witness another conflagration in this flame bestridden town. When the first alarm was given the tire had already penetrated the roof of Mr J. Hickey's two story boarding house in Market street, and when the Fire Brigade arrived on the scene there was not" the slightest hope of saving the building it was problematical if the adjoining residence of Mr Thomas Russell would no also fall a prey to the flames. Owing to the scarcity of water Captain Brausche at first brought only two two jets into action, but the exigencies of the occasion demanded a third jet which- was forthwith put on and in a few minutes the safety of the surrounding buildings was assured as fortunately the morning was calm. There were five or six boarders in the house who lost most of their effects, and the furniture was completely destroyed. The long-suffering public is by this time tired of being told that '• the origin of the fire is a mystery " and the present case is no exception to the rule ; all that is known is that Mrs Hickey, who was sleeping in a room on the ground floor with a girl working at the establishment, was roused by pecular sounds at about 12'45 a.m. and discovered the kitchen on fire, and alarmed the household, who had little time to do anything but escape with their lives. Mrs Hickey seems to have sustained a severe shock, but fortunately the children were absent on a visit with some friends, and the proprietor, Mr Hickey, was away in Waipawa transacting business. There was some money locked away in the house which was also lost. The greatest credit is due to the noiseless practical manner in which the brigade set about their work. The following are the insurances: — Norwich Union, £3OO on the furniture; North German, £SO on the piano ; and South British, £6OO on the building.