FIRE IN THE CITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17457, 29 April 1920, Page 6

FIRE IN THE CITY.

METROPOLITAN HOTEL. SERVANT SERIOUSLY BURNED INMATES' PERILOUS ESCAPE. FLAMES SWEEP UPPER FLOOR. A disastrous fire broke out in the city at about two o'clock this morning in the Metropolitan Hotel, at the corn** of TJtieen Street and Xhrfbjun Street West. Fortunately there was co loss of life, but more than one occupant of the hotel was more or less seriously burned in escaping from the building. The hotel wag almost completely gutted on the upper storey, while great damage must have been done below by smoke and water. The fire broke out in the third storey of the building, and spread with great rapidity. The occupants of the bote}, including 20 boarders, suddenly aroused from sleep, had no time to dress, and had to make an immediate dash for safety down fire escapes and stairs. Ordsal of the Third Cook. One of the staff of the hotel, Mr. John Osburn, the third cools-, was among the , last to learn of the fire, and he made a dash for one of the front windows facing Queen Street -with the flames all round him. Apparently overcome by the heat and with his clothes burning, Mr. Osburn collapsed on the fire escape and lay with his feet caught in the ironwork* calling for help. His sufferings. must have been intense, and a sigh of relief went up from the small crowd that had gathered when it was seen that Mr. Osburn had been able to catch the framework "of the fire escape, pull himself up, and then drop to the verandah below, a distance of about 10ft. The unfortunate man was immediately assisted into the street and was taken to the hospital by motor-car. He was there found to be goffering from were barns about the head and arms, but was able to walk into the ward after receiving attention. Lady Boarders' experience. Mrs. Shaod and another lady, who occupied room No. 7 on the top i floor of the hotel, stated that she was aroused by a, man who told her to dress immediately and leave the building. The flames, however, spread so rapidly that' they had barely time to put on coats and make a dash for the side entrance down the stairs. By this time the passage-way was full of smoke, and Mrs. Shand stated that they were among the last out. The licensee, Mr. Taylor, states that ha was awakened by someone knocking at his door. Flames and smoke were issuing from the room next to his own, and he had to make a hurried exit. The experience of other boarders in tha boose shows thai the fire had a good hold before the alarm was given. One of them stated that he endeavoured to set down, the stairs, but -was forced back by dense volumes of smoke in the passages and had to take to the fire escape. The first occupant of the hotel to discover the fire was one of the boarders, Mr. Leo Feeney, who slept on the top Soar, and he immediately gave the alarm to other men in the house, and they went and roused the women and children.

Diffjealt Task for Brigade. Flames were bursting out from three <*" the upper windows in Durham Street West by the time the inmates in the rear of the hotel were roused. A fire escape descends from the second storey windows of this portion of th© building, and two women were carried down the escape by firemen into Durham Street, and were followed by several men. The task of tho fire brigade was on© of extreme difficulty. The names were leaping high above the roof of the building, with great columns of acrid smoke pouring from the windows. Nevertheless the firemen forced their way en to the fire-escapes and the roofs of adjoining buildings, carrying leads of bote to the. third storey from the three oyea sides of tire building. They fought th© tire stubbornly for nearly an hour before there was any apparent diminution in the fierceness of the flames. By a-quarter to three, however, their efforts had prevailed and the fire was practically subdued. The hotel is built of brick, with long front to Durham Street West, and' stands considerably higher than, the adjoining premises of Messrs Wiseman and Sons. The party wall on the northern side proved an effective fire-break, and although clouds of sparks were carried across by the light breeze there was no extension of the fire beyond the hotel.