WELLINGTON FIRE

Hokitika Guardian, 13 May 1929, Page 1

WELLINGTON FIRE

RAILWAY HOTEL DESTROYED. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) .YELLINGTON, May 11. One of Wellington’s oldest landmarks, the Railway Hotel, on Thorndon Quay, owned by Mr James Dcalv, was destroyed by a fire which broke out soon after half past one this afternoon. The building was an old wooden one, and the flames spread with great rapidity, and, despite the efforts of the fire brigade, which was on the scene a few minutes after the outbreak commenced, it was impossible to save the building. The lire, it was thought, originated in the wnslihou.se. Tn a fiasn the flames had penetrated to the trout- ol the building, giving those in the hotel no time to escape with any more than tile clothes they were wearing. The cook, Miss Campbell, had to be rescued front her bed, to which she was confined on account of m recent severe illness. Ono ol Air Dcalv s sons made his way to her room as soon as the fire was dicovered, but bys the time lie iiad readied her, lus urea ns of exit hrnl been cut off. and it was necessary For him to carry Miss Campbell down the fire escape in the front of the building. '(i,vo girls employed in the hotel had to he assisted from the roar of the building, where they were engaged in their duties.

There was no time to remove any valuables from 'the building. Tt U understood that there as a consideinl.le amount of money in the safe, and it i,s known that there were many valuable papers. There was fairly large decks' of W and spirituous liqoars in the hotel building, and in the vault below. The Railway Hofei was one ol tin oldest licensed housosc in Wellington and was a well known landmark. Mr Tames Dea.lv has held the license ever due-- the building was erected, and he belt! Ibe freehold of the Land am building. Only a IVw weeks ago the hotel was painted and renovated genTlio insurances on the building And stock are not yet available.