THE FATAL FIRE AT COROMANDEL

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10013, 27 December 1895, Page 5

THE FATAL FIRE AT COROMANDEL

As inquest was held in the Kap&nga Arms, Coromtindel, before Mr, A. Swindley. coroner, on the remains of the unfortunate victim of tho recent disastrous fire. Mr. Stehr, the landlord of tho Star and Gartor Hotel, where the fire originated, gave evidenco that about three o'clock on Tuesday morning ha was aroused by one of the ser I vants knocking at his bedroom door and informing him that the hotel was on fire. He immediately got up and went round to all the bedrooms, rousing the inmates, Ho met the dcceasod coming out of his room, and directed him how so escape, Witness then wont downstairs, but could not extinguish the fire. There were 18 persons sleeping in tho hotol on the night of the fire, all of whom were accounted for but one. The deceased arrived on Monday night about eleven o'clock. Ho appeared to be a traveller from Auckland. Witness did not know his name. He took a glass of gingor ale and wont to bod, In witness's opinion, he must, aftergettingout, bavegono back into the hotel to get his things and so perished. Ha appeared to be between 30 and 40 yoars of age, about 5 foot 8 inohos in height, fair, with heavy reddish moustache, and was dressed in dark clothes. The jury brought in an open verdict. Nesbitt was Insured for £100, not £300 as at first stated, and ho estimates his loss at £150 above his insurance.—[Own Correspondent.] Regarding tho man who lo«t his lifo in the firo at Coromandol, Mr. Entrican, tho well-known importer of Custom-street, informs us that lie sent a man named Mackrell down to Coromandol with a lottor of introduction to Mr. Bridsijn, in rosponso to an application from that gentleman for an asuistant. Mr. Entrican has no doubt that the unfortunate man burned in the fire is Mackrell, who was at one time in the employ of Mr. R. Rew, grocer, Victoriastreet. Mnokroll was a prominent member of tho Salvation Army, and lias a brother resident at Giaborne. He was a brother-in-law of Mr. W. G. Allen, drapor, formerly of Jervois Road, Ponsonby.