DEATH IN FIRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21577, 23 August 1933, Page 10

DEATH IN FIRE

FATE OP LABOURER TAPU HOTEL OUTBREAK EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST [by telegraph—own correspondent] THAMES, Tuesday The adjourned inquest concerning the dentil of James Bennett Ludwig, miner and labourer, aged 50, of Tirau, who lost his life in the fire which destroyed the Royal Oak Hotel at Tapu, early on the morning of Sunday, July 9, was concluded at Thames before Mr. W. Bongard, coroner. Evidence as to the discovery of the fire and the efforts mado to rescuo deceased and a fellow-boarder, Mr. Flynn, was given by the licensee, Llewllyn Mostyn Parry, at the opening of the inquest on July 10. Leonard Francis Flynn, who was recently discharged from hospital, stated to-day that ho was a prospector, working at Tapu in partnership with deceased. He had been a boarder at the hotel for some yeeks. Ho had returned to tho hotel about midnight and after retiring to bed was awakened by hearing a crash on the ground floor. Witness said he went to the head of the stairs, where he saw heavy smoke, and could hear tho fire roaring below. He then roused Ludwig, who walked with him to tho door of tho room. Ludwig then hesitated and pulled back, saying he wanted to get his clothes. Just as he broko away from witness, tho firo broko through tho coiling of a room at tho other end of tho passago and tho flames travelled right through to where witness was standing. Ho returned to Ludwig's room and assisted deceased to dress, closing tho door while deceased was dressing. Witness opened the door a.nd saw flames rushing past. He rushed out and seemed to become stupefied by the smoke in the passage. Witness remembered the flames licking round him and then he crashed to the floor. He recovered consciousness in a paddock in front of the hotel.

James Castelford Thompson, labourer, of Tapu, stated that he was awakened about 3.30 a.m. on July 9 by hearing a call. He got out of bed and saw the hotel on fire. Witness spoke to Parry, who said: "Poor Ludwig, what are we to do!" Witness went up the stairs to the landing, but could go no further on account of the smoke. He then went up the fire escape to deceased's room and pushed open the window. Smoke rushed out, but no flames. The smoke was too thick to allow witness to enter the room. The coroner returned a verdict that deceased perished during the accidental burning of the Royal Oak Hotel at Tapu. \