FATAL FIRE AT AN HOTEL

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8195, 5 March 1890, Page 6

FATAL FIRE AT AN HOTEL

A fatal fire occurred at Irwin's Provincial Hotel, BallaraLj on February 20, one of the lodgers being literally roasted alive. The unfortunate man was a chemist named Evan Thomas, who carried on business some years ago at Clunes. He was aged 51 years, and leaves a widow and four children in Waverly, uear Sydney. Thomas, who was of Welsh was of intemperate habits, and all efforts to reclaim him proved fruitless. He was twice married, his second wife being a relative of Mr. R. Gibbings, an old and leading citizen of Ballarat. Deceased had his life insured for £1000, and the policy was purchased not long since by Mr. Gibbings. There is ample proof that the fire broke out in the room in the hotel occupied by Thomas, who retired to bed at 11.45, the conflagration taking place about 12 o'clock. It is presumed that Thomas, who was suffering from the effects of drink; placed the lighted candle close to his bed, and this falling against the wall, set the extensive building in a blaze. The charred remains of the unfortunate man presented a terrible sight when taken from the debris. One leg was completely burnt off, and the other limbs, together with the trunk, were shrivelled into a black cinder', Mr. Wheeler, M.L.A., of Castlemaine, wild was a lodger in the hotel, had a remarkably narrow escape from the flames. He occupied the room adjoining the apartment in which Evan Thomas was sleeping, and in rushing away from the flames his hair, beard, ana eyebrows were completely singed off. Mr. Wheeler, in conversation with a reporter, stated that he went to bed about a quarter past eleven p.m., and shortly after heard a man enter the room adjoining the one occupied by him. It seemed to him that the man was intoxicated, as shortly after he entered Mr. Wheeler heard a chair upset, followed by a terrible roar. The apprehension of fire, however, did not occur to him. A moment or two after this he turned into bed, and looked up to the ceiling, when he saw a fierce glare. Jumping out of bed, he slipped on a portion of his clothing and rushed out into the passage. Fire was on all sides. Mr. Wheeler was overpowered, and fell upon the floor. He then thought it was all over with him, but managed to jump up again, when he saw a window at the end of the passage. He broke that, but could not get out of it, "and," "lie continued, "I now see it is fortunate I did not, as the window is fully 20 feet from the ground." He then saw a door or window opposite, and burst through it to another room, and then regained the street. Mr. Wheeler has lost some £50 worth of property in the fire, but he regards that as nothing in his thankfulness for his lucky escape with his life. The building, furniture, and stock were only insured for £2950, as follows :—Guardian Office, £700; Australian Mercantile, £250 ; Victoria, £250; London and Lancashire, £500; South British, £500; Royal, £250; Standard, £250; Colonial Mutual, £250.