FIRE IN WYNDHAM-STREET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6827, 3 October 1883, Page 5

FIRE IN WYNDHAM-STREET.

NARROW ESCAPE OF A FAMILY,

: What threatened at one time to provi serious conflagration, broke out at half-p; two o'clock this morning in a block of wood buildings, the property of Messrs. Glenfii and Mason, situate in Wyndham-atreet, 1 tween the Roman Catholic Cathedral a. the Albert-street crossing. The block ci: sists of five shops and dwelling hous combined, which are occupied re»p< tively by Mrs. Cavanagh, who carri on the business of a grocer and gee ral dealer in the upper corner shop, W Walter Hare, stationer, Mr. Henry Jacol boot and shoe manufacturer, Mrs. Buckto dealer in second hand clothes, and Mr. ' H. Shove, butcher, who occupies the she at the Albert-street corner. It was in tl shop tenanted by Mr. Jacobs, and which about the centre of the block, that the fire orif nated. He and his wife and two yom children, a boy and a girl, had retired to re about the usual hour last night, leavii everything apparently safe. Shortly aft two o'clock this morning Mrs! Jacobs awol with a stifling sensation, and found to hi great al<irm that the bedroom, which wi over the shop, was fil ed with dense amok She immediately attempted to rouse her hu band, but owing to hiß being iu a semi-uncoi scions state from the effects of the smok she experienced some difficulty, and onl succeeded after persistent efforts. By thi time the flames had burst through tb shutters of the shop window, and renders any escape from the room above extreme} hazardous. Mrs. Jacobs threw open th bedroom window and screamed for help, an two young men named Holland and Williams whs happened to be about at the time, an-Police-constable White were quickly on th spot, and rendered what assistance was i: their power in enabling the family to escape A ladder was procured, and, at considerabl risk from the flames, the officer rai np and brought down one of the ohil dren, the little girl. He next attemptec to get Mrs. Jacobs down, but in he excitement and anxiety for the safety o her husband and children, she got out a

a different window and fell to the ground but fortunately sustained no serious injuries beyond a severe shaking. By this time thf flames rendered any further attempt tc rescue Mr. Jacobs and the other child bj .means of a ladder impossible, but he suo ceeded in passing it from one of the windows of his bedroom to Mr. H?>"e, who lives nexl door, and also in escaping himself bj the same means. Owiug to the rapid pro. gress of the fire, the A Jacobs's were unable to save anything, and only succeeded in escaping in their nightdresses. Shortlj after the inmates had got out of the burning building, the Fire Brigade, under Superintendent Hughes, arrived, followed by the Salvage Corps, and two leads of hose having been laid on, and there being an excellent pressure of water, the fl mes were soon extinguished in the interior of the building. The fire, however, had obtained a good hold fof the shingle roof, and considerable difficulty was experienced by the firemen in getting the master of it. Indeed at one time it looked as if the whole block would go, and as it was three of the shops, in addition to the one destroyed, were considerably damaged. Mr. Hare is perhaps the greatest sufferer after Mr. Jacobs, who, as we have stated, have lost everything. He had recently obtained a new stock, which has been cither destroyed by fire or rendered comparatively worthless by water. Mr. Buckton is also a heavy loser, and Mrs. Cavanagh'3 stock has been greatly damaged, partly by smoke and water. The only occupant in the block who has not Buffered to any great extent is Mr. Shove. The firemen showed considerable dtring in mounting the burning roof, and they were frequently applauded by the large crowd which stood watching the progress of the fire. After most persistent attempts they finally succeeded in extinguishing the flames, but not before a large amount of damage had been done. It is a somewhat singular circumstance that a few months ago a fire broke oat in the same block, and in precisely the same shop. On that occasion Mrs. Buckton and Mr. Hare were also great losers. 'I ho buildingß are, we understand, insured, but we were unable this morning to ascertain in what office. The other insurances are as. folio wj :—Jacobs, £100, Standard ; Hare, £200, Norwich Onion ; Cavanagh, £150, South British ; Buckton, £50, Union ; Shove, £100, South British. Aa to the origin of the fire nothing is known. There was a large force of police on the ground ; and Sergeant-Major White was present.