Fire at Terrace End.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 154, 8 June 1883, Page 2

Fire at Terrace End.

DWELLING BURNT TO TH6 GROUND, ;'

TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THE . :.v, , : CONTENTS. ■■■■■/ : '"

NARROW ESCAPE OF THE :,;..[. - JNMATES. : --^ ; ;

i Between 8 and 4 o'clock this morning I the house .occupied by Mr and Mrs Greahey. at Terrace End, was discovered toi be; on fire. The wind was blowing half a gale at- the time,, and when the terror-stricken inmates awoke to their daDger, it was as maoh as; they could do to escape with their lives.- ; Mr Greaney rushed out with one child, and Mrs Greney :took out the other. ; He laid the child under a fence, and rushed back to save what few articles he could. Mrs Gteaneyi was under the impression that her other child had bean left ia the burning building, and her cries of: distress aroused the neighbours, some of whom were already on tho scene. : She became calm and thanktal when; she learnt that her child was safe. A couple of small boxes was all that was saved out of the burning building, the destruction of whioh was fearfully rapid, as the flames fanned by the fierce wind, devoured every stick m about half ..an hour. , Tlw t neighbours seeing that nothing coul4 be <?pne to save the doomed building, or any of the contents, and noticing, that Mr ipate's hpase, next door, was m serious danger of catching fire, under the direction pj Mr Weight of the Princess fiotfij, ''(whose plack and energy were most commendable) leat ready assistance m preventing the fire extending. Had Mr Gate'? house

caught, nothing could Jhave saved Mr Marsh's. By dint of hard work i and vigilanoe, all .danger was ultimately averted. Mr Greaney is a , heay^. loser, for although his houpe tjras inßjiwi| the insurance does not nearly cover the' loss he hes sustained, he and his family making their escape m their night, clothes, all furniture and clothing having to be left to the fierce fury of the fire. He informs our reporter that he ; cannot account for the fire at a\l. They w>re at a birthday party next door, 'and returned early, Jighting. up the fire, butribT cookiig anything, and retiring to rest shortly afterwards to find their home m flames. Ihey were most careiul m -extinguishing, the fire eyery nighb; -and exercised" every possible caution with regard to .fire generally. Some people think -the cause is due to. a dat^ctiye chimuey, but it is most probable the exact origin will newer be discovered. In the opinion of some the fire commenced m the roof, bat Mr Greaney thinks it was some «rhere near tbe fireplace, as when he awoke it was that part of the houße whire the fire was burning most fiercely. The destruction of their home is a' sad calamity to the family, who should have general sympathy m their misfortune. ? '