THE FATAL FIRE AT ROTORUA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10044, 3 February 1896, Page 5

THE FATAL FIRE AT ROTORUA.

THE INQUEST. A HEROIC RESCUE. [by TELEGRAPH.OWN CORESPONDENT.] Rotobua, Saturday. David Ross, who was injured so severely in yesterday morning's Are, still lingers, but is nob expected to recover. Orders have been given for his removal to the empty houso on the top of Pukeroa, the ownership of which is in dispute between the Town Board and Mr. Taylor, Persons naturally inquire why & case of this sort should not be admitted to the Sanatorium, where proper attendance could be secured, when cases of much less importance have frequently been admitted. The Inquest was opened to-day before Mr, C. Malfroy. Mr. Maunders could not appear, his condition being worse than yesterday, and an adjournment was therefore mado to the house which has been assigned to him near the Sanatorium, and tho evidence of self and wife wore taken while in their beds. Mr. Henry Giloi, the young man who saved Mr. Maunaers's child, performed a most heroic acb. He climbed to the window by pieces of scantling, which brokeonthe firstattempt. Reaching the window, tho fire and heat drove him back, but implored by the father, who was below, to make another effort, he went in and seized tho child, and fell with it from the window, Mr. Giles beneath. Tho child was not hurt, bub has been ailing since. Mr. Giles is able to go about to day, but is severely scorched. He was unconscious for some time after the fall. Tho rooms were nob provided with fire-escape ropes, nor does ib appear there were any light articles with which the sashes could be broken. There were no weights on the lower sashes, and they were difficult to open. It is a miracle more lives , were nob losb. A promenade ooncert takes place in the Sanatorium grounds on Monday night, in which the whole community will assist, to provide aid to the sufforera. The committee of arrangement consists of Mr. Malfroy, Mr. Dansey, Dr. Winders, Mr. Shaw (Coolgardie), and Mr. Derlote (South Australia), and others. The inquiry is still going on, The necessary order was received for Ross's admission to the Sanatorium this afternoon.