Sensation at Fire

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVI, Issue 210, 23 August 1926, Page 5

Sensation at Fire

A Mysterious Assault

STRUCK BY UNKNOWN MAN. b < 6 LARGE HOUSE DESTROYED ■■■ULl9 An atmosphere of mystery surrounds the total destruction by fire on Saturday evening, of a ten-roomed residence, together with extensive ; Jushings, at Irongate, near Hastings, occupied by Mr. Wm. J. Jamieson. The house, which was owned by Mr. C. E. Small, of Hastings, was burned to the ground, nothing being left standing but the chimney. What might have been simply a case of fire without any apparent cause is complicated by the story of a farm employee who was left in charge during the absence of Mr. and Mrs. Jamieson. It appears that Mr. and Mrs. Jamieson left home early to go to the pictures in Napier, leaving the place in the care of a farm employee and his wife who lived in a cottage •dose at hand. It was the intention of the farm hand and his wife so go to the pictures in Hastings and shortly after seven o’clock he went to the homestead to ascertain that everything was in order before he left. He went in the back door and saw a light shining under an interior door. On opening this he was s’ uck a severe blow on the mouth, ren. dering him unconscious. On recovering he found his wife attending him and inquiring of him what had happened, while the house was well ablaze.

No help was to be had nearer than a quarter of a mile away and before anything could he done the house and contents were completely destroyed. The blaze was clearly visible for miles and many people in Hastings who saw it wondered why the firebell did not ring, not knowing that the conflagration ~«s well outside the borough boundary. Tn response to a summons Con. stable J. O’Neil] went out. The police are investigating.

It is understood that the farm hand concerned is not seriously injured.