Fire at Skippers Point.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1844, 6 November 1891, Page 2

Fire at Skippers Point.

CORONER'S INQUEST

An inquest was held in the Court-house, on Wedresday, 4th inst., touching the origin of the fire which destroyed the premises of Julien Bourdeau, Skippers Point, on the 21st October last—before C. C. Boyes, Esq., coroner, and a jury of six, Mr J. T.d. Walde, being chosen foreman. Sergeant Nickle conducted the inquiry. The following witnesses were examined. C. E. Gudegon, manager Colonial Bank, Queenstown, deposed that Mr Bourdeau owed certain sums to the bank, for which they held the in surance policy on the stock for £2OO, and store £3OO. The store was valued at £3OO, and stock at £BOO or £I2OO. Have held the policys for over four years, but they have increased as the store increased in value. The policy was taken out in the South British Insurance Co. F W. F. Geisow, agent for the National Insurance Co.. deposed that the company held a risk of £2OO on the stock ; the proposal being signed in September, but the insurance risk would not start until October, 21st, the day before the fire—by Bourdeau. and policy made out in the name of Julius Wenkheim. When policy was sent to the Dunedin office, they suggested to alter the proposal by issuing it to Bourdeau, then transferring it to Wenkheim. . J. Bourdeau, storekeeper, Skippers Point, deposed—l am owner of the store lately burnt down at Skippers : the fire oceured on Thursday morning October, 22nd last. The fire took place a little past five. At 20 minutes to 5 I called the man Cooper to put on a fire in the kitchen stove ; and prepare the horses to start on his journey to Queenstown. The pipe bel nging to the stove went through the wall, not through the roof. The store has been erected over four years in the same place. I went back to bed after calling Cooper, heard him getting up and light the fire, but could not tell how long he was there, for I dosed again. My bedroom adjoins the kitchen but the door was 3 or 4 inches open, and I saw smoke coming though the door; immediately I heard a crackling noise in tbe kitchen When I saw the smoke I took no notice of it until I heard the crackling noise. Then jumped up and the fire was all around where the stove was and half way up to the roof. The fire must have come from the stcve. The stove pipe is protected by sheet-iron which was put up at the time the stove was erected. After that I ran through the office next to the kitchen where a leather bag was, and threw it out of a window because I wanted to save it, and some papers and a day book. Then went through the store for my ledger and other books. To Sergt. Nickle—l made no attempt to check the flames, as it was impossible to do bo. The books I threw out on to the road ; I then endeavored to get out all the goods I could and, at the same time, calling for help. My cries were heard and Cooper and M'Kinlay came together. A crowd soon collected, but nothing could be done j Cooper tried to get in at the store door but the smoke drove him back. A few articles were saved. The amouuts of insurance are £7oo—£2oo on building and £SOO on Ptock,—tbe stock being in Bured in the South British Co. for £3OO and £2OO in the National Co. and the building in the first-named Co. Estimate my losses over the insurance at £7OO. The fire must have been caused through the pipe becoming overheated and the wall catching. The pipe was about Ift from the wall and about 4ft, long before it entered the wall. Have had a strong fire on before but there was no I always leave light wood in the stove for lighting in the morning The whole place was blazing in about two minutes. R. S. Cooper, employfe of previous witness, said that on the morning of the fire he was called by Mr Bourdeau to light the fire at about 20 minutes to 5. Got up and did so and, after heating some water, went for the horses to go to Queenstown. It was about five o'clock when I left the house and was away a few minutes when I heard a coo-ee from the direction of the house. Ran to a ridge that overlooked the house and sow smoke coming from it. Hurried back and found the house in flames. When lighting the fire I use no kerosene. I put the usual fire on and opened the damper to make it draw but closed the damper before I went on. The cause of the fire must have occurred through the pipe being overheated end perhaps the pipe may have 1 een dirty Think there was nothing strange about the pipe becoming heated on that particular morning. Constable Jones, Queenstown, deposed, amorgst other evidence, that on arriving at scene of the nre, Skippers, the site of the store was a mass of cinders and debris —few articles being saved. Examined the stove pipe and found it in fair condition, al though it had been through the fire then. From < n quiries made everything was done to save the place The jury, after considering a few moments, le turned a verdict that the fire wan accidental.