FIRE AT OEO.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume L, Issue 8966, 8 January 1906, Page 5

FIRE AT OEO.

HOTEL BURNT DOWN.

NARROW ESCAPE OF INMATES.

(From a Correspondent.)

At about two o'clock this (Sunday) morning the, Oeo Hotel was totally destroyed by fire, nothing being saved. . Tho licensee, Mr Arthur. Martijn*, and a Mrs Campbell, who was. acting,,- housekeeper, and the latter's three children just escaped in their night clothes." .The fol(lowing are particulars obtained isb'tfar. Mr Martin retired for the night at 10 p.m., at which time everything appeared to be all right. Saturday being, a very cold day a small fire had been made in the sitting-room. The -fire, however, had been put out safely before Mr Martin went-to bed. At about 2 a.m. Mr Martin was awakened by hearing a noise, which he thought was souieone walking about downstairs, and on getting up he discovered the place was on fire. JTire was showing up the bedroom stairs, and up to the ceiling. He at once aroused Mrs Campbell, .and told her to get out with t£e through her bedroom window on to the verandah, and he would tiry and 1 get down the fire escape and with a ladder get them on the ground. This Mrs Campbell did, but in her hurry to' get out shecould not open the window sash, and had to break the glass with her hands. Through the "opening she escaped, and took- out the three children, but in so doing she cut her hands, and one of the children' cut his foot. Before Mr Martin got' 1 round to the verandah Mrs Campbell became frightened and jumped to the ground, severely injuring her shoulder. Just at that time Mr Martin reached the front of the burning building, where Ida Campbell, a ',14-year-old girl, threw down to him her brother, a boy aged seven years, and her little* five-year-old sister, she herself being assisted fsrom the.. verandah by Mr Martin. • ATr Martin cannot in any way account for the fire, but thinks it started from the storeroom, which is immediately under the staircase. He will be a heavy loser by .the fire, , having lost about £40 in cash, 'a piano, pictures, and other furniture notl included in the insurance.

. The building was owned by Mr George Watkins, Epsom, Auckland, and insured in the National Insurance Co. for £360 or £380. The - general .stock, fittings, etc., an dpart of furniture, was insured for £215 (office not known). Dr Noonani of Manaia, attended Mrs Campbell this (Sunday) morning, but does not consider her injuries vesry, seriousHowever, it will take some time to get over the shock 'and severe shaking she got. Mr Martin got burnt about the hands and face, also cut on, tb» nose and mouth, when going from his bedroom to the fir© escape, and will probably be laid up for a few days. . From the time the fire was discovered! until the hotel was burnt to the ground was only about twenty minutes.