MIDNIGHT ESCAPE FROM BLAZING HOME

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6733, 9 October 1928, Page 8

MIDNIGHT ESCAPE FROM BLAZING HOME

Father Saves Child

MAIN TRUNK TRAVELLERS WITNESS' CONFLAGRATION

Per Press Association. TE KUITI, Oct. 7.

After being nearly suffocated by fumes and smoke from his burning house, Mr. William A. Moonie, railway guard, of Te Kuiti, was successful in rescuing his youngest child from the flames on Thursday night . The building was destroyed. Mr Moonie, his wife and three children, who lived in View Road, Te Kuiti, were asleep when, about 11.45 p.m. on Thursday, Mrs Moonie was aroused and found the house to be burning fiercely. She promptly awakened the others. The house was full of smoko and with great difficulty Mr. Moonie managed to reach the room where the youngest child was sleeping. Ho was almost overcome by the fumes and smoke but was finally successful in staggering to safety with the child. The fire brigade was quickly on the scene but was powerless owing to the lack of water, the house being situated high up on the hills. However, the brigade was able to save the piano and several articles of furniture. These were stared in a shed nearby, but owing to a change in the wind the shed was’threatened and the furniture had to be removed.

The house was eom L etely demolish ed, only. tw;o brick chimneys being left standing. The building was owned by .Mr’ Moonie.

The house was insured for £SOO and the furniture for £3OO in the State office.

Passengers on the Main Trunk express witnessed the outbreak, several of them clambering on to the roofs of the carriages as the train stood at the railway station in, order to obtain a better view.