LIVES LOST IN FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19626, 3 May 1927, Page 8

LIVES LOST IN FIRE.

NAPIER BOARDING HOUSE. TWO OCCUPANTS PERISH. SOME NARROW • ESCAPES. INJURIES TO A WAITRESS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT, i NAPIER, Monday. A fatal fire, in which two men. lost their lives and a single woman received injuries while escaping from the flames, broke cut shortly after 4.30 o'clock this morning in the Shakespeare boarding house, a structure of 21 rooms at the foot of Shakespeare Road. The alarm was first given at 4.45, and the Port brigade arrived a few minutes later. The Napier brigade was also called and used the Dennis; pump with success. The flames had a strong hold when discovered, and there was no chance o! saving the building from destruction. ! Adjoining buildings were saved. Not all the inmates were able to escape, and two, Mr. John Webber, a single man, aged 59 years, and Mr. William Robinson, aged 30 years, were trapped by the flames. The remainder escaped in their night attire, although Miss A. Spiers was injured in her jump from a window on the first floor. The building and contents were totally destroyed in about 40 minutes. Miss Spiers, aged 20, employed at the house as a waitress, was conveyed to the hospital suffering from bruises and abrasions as the result of her jump from a first storey window. The building V7as a two-storeyed one. With other property in tho vicinity it was owned by Mr. J. P. Smith, the lessees being Mr. and Mrs. R. Bruce. Bousing the Occupants. At the time of the outbreak in the early hours of this morning, in addition to Mr. and Mrs. Bruce and their small daughter, there were eight boarders and three women employees in the house. Tho alarm was given by a resident on tho hill at the back of tlio building, who summoned the Port fire brigade by telephone. A few minutes later, seeing that the flames were gaining strength and judging that the outbreak was beyond tho control of tho Tort brigade, tho resident summoned the town brigade. Some two minutes after tho call had been given telephonic communication with both port and town from tho locality was cut off, tho heavy telephone cables which ran outsido tho houso breaking with tho terrific heat of tho flames, which shot up from the top windows and through what remained of the roof. Apparently Mr. and Mrs. Bruce, who occupied a room at tho front of tho building on the ground floor, wero tho first to discover tho fire. On realising that tho place was burning Mr. Bruce dashed up the stairs to warn tho occupants there, while Mrs. Bruce, with her little daughter, left as hurriedly as possible,, after having roused tho maids and some of tho boarders. Running a great risk, for the flames had a firm hold before tho outbreak was discovered, Mr. Brace found his escape via tlia stairway blocked, and he had to leave the burning building liy sliding down ft vent pipe. Other Buildings Saved. Mr. Duncan Campbell, a waterside worker, was one of the first to leave tho building. Ho smashed ono of the top windows and Jell on to the roadway below. He was followed bv other .boarders and by tho young woman, Miss -Spiers, who was injured when she fell heavily. ' * When it was found that there were two man still in tho building Mr.. Campbell attempted to go back to rouse them, but lie was repulsed by tho flames. "I was awakened by screaming and shouting in tho street below," stated ono of the boarders to-day, "and it was at once apparent to me, by tho strong smell of burning, that tho house was on fire. I seized a portmanteau »nd rushed for the door, but on opening it 1 found a solid wall of flame had enveloped tho stairs' and tho whole of tho lower portion of tha house. I do not know how long I stood watching tho inferno. I was com• pletoly dazed, but I suddenly awoke to. my danger and dashed to the window." Seeing that it- was hopeless to attempt to save the building, the brigade turned the full force of tho water on a building at the back used as a garage and housing a five-sealer car, the property of Mr. J. P. Smith, and the adjacent property. By dint of much fjood work, these buildings and tho car were saved, as wore also the baches at the back, although in each caso tho buildings wero badly charred. Some Heavy Losses. Evidence of the good work of the firefighters is afforded in the saving of the Shakespeare store, occupied by Mr. R. McDonald, and Air, G. Fine's residence o,u either side of the hiving building. The majority of the boarders lost everything, although a few managed to snatch clothes and valuables as they made their escape in night attire. A heavy loser was Mr. D. Campbell, who is stated to have lost £BO in banknotes, together with many other valuable possessions which ho had in his room. A searcher among the ruins this morning was Mr. J?. McElhirmey, an elderly boardet. who recently arrived in Napier from the back country, and who took £4O of his savings from the bank at the end of last week in preparation for a trip to Auckland, on which ho was to embark to-morrow." Ho had the money in four £lO notes in his waistcoat pocket, and in ; his hurry to get clear of tho burn- ( ing budding as soon as possible, left tho waistcoast in his room. Miss Spiers, after her accident, was attended to hy Dr. Fitzgerald, and was later removed in the ambulance to tho Napier Hospital. It has yet to bo ascertained as to whether she has sustained a fracture of the leg. Bodies Debris. The outbreak "heing subdued, the Napier brigade returned to the station. Tho search for the bodies among the debris was carried out by members of the Port fire brigade with the aid of the police. The remains of Mr. Robinson were found some two hours after the outbreak, and from the position when found it is surmised that the unfortunate man wa,s suffocated by the smoke while asleep. .After diligent searching Mr. Weber's remains were found. They wero lying at tho foot of tho main chimney at tho back of the house and it is difficult to account for their position, unless, as is surmi.vd, deceased opened his door, thinking to escape by the stairs and finding the stairway a mass of flame, lost his head and leapt to his doom in the racing inferno below. Both men were highly popular with their fellow-boarders. Mr. Webber had announced bis intention of going out duck shooting this morning, and at first it was thought that he might have hoen awav when the outbreak occurred, but as the won\ing wore os and nothing was heard of him. hopes sank, and thsi worst was confirmed bv the finding of his body. Ho had been in .Napser for some 20 years. The late MiF. Robinson had only been a short time in the Dominion previous to his having followed a seafaring call, ing. Ha had served as a purser on several vessels. Ho had been looking for permanent employment in Napier, hut apparently had been unsuccessful, for recently he had announced his intention of trying his luck in Australia, and had intended h-avmg for tho Commonwealth next week. .. The insurances were in the Atlas Office and amounted to £IOOO on the house and j! motor shed and £BSO on tho contents.