THE ALARMING FIRE AT SANDRINGHAM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12478, 23 January 1904, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE ALARMING FIRE AT SANDRINGHAM.

THE QUEEN'S ESCAPE. fER MAJESTY'S BEDROOM CEILING FALLS IN. Details are to hand by mail of the narrow escape of the Queen in the fire at Sandringham, a short account of which appeared iii our cable columns. He; .Majesty's escape from her bedroom before the ceiling collapsed was mainly due, to the courage and presence of mind' displayed by her lady-in-waiting, the Hon. Charlotte Knollys. Queen Alexandre herself was completely self-possessed, and remained near the scene of the lire while the work of extinguishing it Was in progress. It was shortly after five o'clock in the morning, while Her Majesty was still asleep, that the outbreak was discovered. The fire originated in Miss Knollys' room, which is directly over that occupied by the Queen. Miss Knollys was the first occupant of Sandringhain .House to become aware of the danger. She was awakened by smoke, which filled her bedroom, and at once realised that the first thing to be doc:? was to arouse the Queen. Hastily running downstairs. Miss Knollys entered Her Majesty's room, and, arousing the Queen from sleep, tuld her of the discovery of the fire.

According to one account she did not wait, to arouse the Quee' merely by calling her; she approached the bed and aroused the Queen literally by shaking her. Her Majesty sprang up, and Miss Knollys, throwing a dressing-gown around her, hurriedly escoiled her from (lie room into the corridor. They had scarcely left the bedroom when the ceiling fell down, and the room was tille' 1 with smoke and dust. Jhe whole household at Saudiinudiam was instantly aroused. Fmlmuilelr 'there is an excellent household fire brigade, and within a feu liniments of (lie alarm the members of the brigade had been summoned, and aero engaged In extinguishing the lire. Ihe exertions of (he men were supervised by Sir JJighton f'fobvn. the Queen's secretary, and her Majesty and Miss Knollys remained about for * some time until it was apparent (hat the outbreak had beeii Suppressed. The brigade was successful in confining he lire to the two bedrooms.

The King, who was at; Elvedeu Hall, was apprised of (he news at an early hour, and later a. special messenger was sent by the Qiiehu to reassure Ills .Majesty. The conclusion arrived at that* the fire might possibly have been caused by the fusion of electric wires has, upon full investigation, been dismissed, and ii has been finally ascertained that ho outbreak was attributable to the concrete bed of the stove in Miss Knollys' bedroom beitiy of insufficient thickness. The stove, which has been recently put in, Is of the newfashioned low well kind, and the (ires had burned through the shallow concrete and ignited the heavy joist which passes imirdialely over the Queen's bedroom. It was this that: smouldered and burst into llames, destroying the beautiful Jitaiblo maliieljiiece.