FIRE AT CARGEN

Northern Advocate, 14 June 1929, Page 4

FIRE AT CARGEN

A TRAGIC SEQUEL. HEAD WAITRESS KILLED. FATAL FALL FROM ESCAPE. (Per Press Association, —Copyright.) AUCKLAND, This Day. ■Small damage, but less of life, attended an outbreak of five at 4 o’clock this morning at Hotel Cargen. The outbreak occurred in the old wooden part of the hotel, whore the staff were 'quartered. It. was discovered by the night porter, who sot the fire alarms ringing, and aroused other inmates. The main lounge, one room and a corridor were fairly damaged, but further spread of the flames was prevented by the prompt arrival of the City Fire Brigade. The boarders were in the brick part of the building, protected by fireproof doors. Miss -Sadie Lynch, head waitress, fell from a fire escape and was killed. The ■porter had got her put of her room and told her to get on the balcony. She did so, but went back to her room to recover some of her., belongings. Becoming alarmed by smoko and fire, she climbed out of her .window to the fire escape, from which.she- fell. A sheet was, found hanging from her window. By this she had apparently lot. herself down to the fire escape. When the porter, I. Gascoigne, discovered the fire, between 3.30 and 3.45, and opened the door of a room where it was seated, there was a terrifying explosion, and in a few seconds the corridor and lounge were a mass of flame and smoke. Two recurs next to the blazing toed eliamber were occupied by members of the staff, whom Gascoigne roused, and they escaped without, much difficulty.