DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11952, 29 April 1902, Page 6

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

TWO LIVES LOST.

MANY BUILDINGS DESTROYED.

A DISASTROUS fire occurred in Otho-street, luverell (New South Wales), on April 22, and resulted in the los 3of two lives. Mr. and Mrs. C. Wilson both perished in the flaniM, and a few charred remains were found in the ruins.

The fire broke out at about one o'clock in Mr. Wilson's shop, and spread to Mr. J. Boyd's office, Thompson (tinsmith), Now Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company's offices, Hunt (saddler), Baling, Buxton and Co. (storekeepers), Anderson (solicitor), Friedman (fancy goods), Heffernan (draper), Finlen (fruiterer and tailor), Vincent (stationer and hairdresser), Carson (fruiterer), Canada Cycle and Motor Depot, Lucock (photographer), Patterson (jeweller). All these places, together with premises occupied as private dwellings, were destroyed. ft was feared that the flames would cross the street, which is 100 ft wide. The heat cracked the plateglass windows of Cansdell and Co.'a store on the opposite side. Several shopkeepers on both sides of the fire removed their goods. The fire is the most disastrous which lias happened there. At daylight, when the fire had died to smouldering embers, a short search revealed bonos of both Mr. Wilson and his wife, lying about 20ft apart. Mr. Wilson occupied a front bedroom on the upper floor of a two-storeyed wooden building. His remains were found towards the rear. Front this it is surmised he was making for the stairs at the rear when he was overcome. Mrs. Wilson's remains were discovered underneath where the stairs stood. It is considered that Mrs. Wilson was attending her husband, who was ill, when she perished, and it is supposed she had occasion to leave the room. In her absence Mr. Wilson, in reaching for medicine, accidentally upset a kerosoiio lamp. In a few minutes the whole premises were in flames. Mrs. Wilson, in rushing to assist her husband, lost her life. Mr. Wilson was a prominent resident. Ho was Mayor of the town a few years ago for two terms. His wife was universally beloved. The deepest sympathy is expressed for the family of nine children, four of whom are married.' The others, who wero at home, escaped. The fire quickly spread from Mr. Wilson's shop to the offices of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company and Thompson's (tinsmith shop) on'the south side, and to Hunt's (saddler's shop) and residence adjoining on the north. The fire thengb reached Messrs. Ksling, Buxton, and Co.'s, general storekeepers (ground floor), and Mr. J. W. Anderson's, solicitor (upper floor), and the other places mentioned. In an hour and a-half 14 shops, seven residences attached, and unites of offices, were destroyed. The building occupied by the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company and Thompson was owned by H. N. McLean, and insured for £375 in the Australian Mutual. Ealing, Buxton, and Co. wero insured for £700. Their loss is about £3000. The premises were owned by the estate cf W. Knipon, and the insurance is unknown. The adjoining premises wero owned by Mrs. B. 0. Body, and the insurance is not known. Harris, stationer, was insured for £450 in the Liverpool, London, and Globe, and £150 in the Mercantile Mutual. Hunt, saddler, was not insured. Ho estimated his loss at £300.

Miss Wilson remembers nothing distinctly beyond climbing through tire upper window and falling on an adjoining roof, finding herself in a back lane. Mrs. Wilson, finding her husband missing, returned to help him, and met a tragic death. Of Hie children, the youngest,'aged six years, escaped by the stairs. Some clambered down the balcony posts. A boy of 13 rushed into the father's office in bare feot, on the first floor, his intention being) to save the books containing accounts. He had his feet and legs slightly injured.

Mr. Hunt, saddler, next door, only rescued his family with difficulty, the whole escaping in nightdresses. Other occupants received timely notice. Some succeeded in saving part of their household goods and the contents of the shops. Kelly's Red Flag stock of drapery suffered by removal. The insurance on this was £1500, and the damage is estimated at £500. Probably the most farreaching ill-effects on premises burned were sustained by Mr. Anderson, solicitor, whoso safe contained several thousand pounds worth of title deeds and other valuable documents. The. whole was reduced to cinders. In a similar one in Now Zealand Loan offices the contents were found intact. Mr. Anderson also lost about £200 in cheques and notes, likewise the whole of his books.

Esling, Buxton, and Co. adopted the precaution of removing the books every night, but this is all the firm saved. Their stock is insured for £1100 and the premises for £500.

Mr. Anderson was insurer! for £150 in the Royal Company; Mrs. Body's buildings for £1250; Messrs. Williams and Bevoridge's butchers' shop, owned by Mr. George Grove, which stayed th» flames in one direction, was covered for £550 in the North Queensland Company, and the estimated damage is £200. Boyd's office, Canada Cycle and .Motor Company, owned by Mr. H. McLean, was insured for £320. Part only of inese was burned, but the rest was wrecked it. a successful attempt to stop tie fire. Business was practically suspended throughout the day,' townspeople gathering in knots to discuss the greatest catastrophe that has ■visited the town. Homeless people were billeted in various, parts of the town. Home made arrangements to re-start business. There is much difficulty in this respect, as not an empty house or shop is available.