THE FACE AT THE WINDOW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14142, 18 August 1909, Page 7

THE FACE AT THE WINDOW.

FATALITY SUGGESTED.

Reports have been current that a woman was seen in one of the windows of the top storey soon after the outbreak, and after retreat had been cut off by means of the staircase. In the course of inquiries yesterday'as to the origin of this report, a Herald representative succeeded in discovering a man who declares he saw a woman there. This is Mr. Harry Rider, second barman at the Northern Club, who said: "I am positive that a woman was there. I was one of the first on the scene. I was helping to pull away the. gates at the entrance to the Arcade, when I looked up, and distinctly saw a woman leaning out of one of the centre windows in the top storey. She was wearing a white blouse, and was calling out to the crowd to save her. By this time the Eire Brigade had arrived, and I rushed over to one of the men to direct his attention to the woman. On looking up again, however, the window was enveloped in smoke, and I saw no more of the lady. I will swear positively that a woman was there, and numbers of people to whom I spoke subsequently also declared that they had seen her." - •"

Mr. William Martin, a waiter at the Northern Club, also declared that he distinctly heard a woman scream four times. He thought that the screams came from the top, storey of the burning building, but he could not say so definitely.

' In view of the reports that a woman had perished in the building, the firemen yesterday made a careful examination of the ruins, but they were unable to discover any trace of human remains. So far no one hae been reported missing.