FATAL FIRE AT BIRKENHEAD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15672, 27 January 1913, Page 3 (Supplement)

FATAL FIRE AT BIRKENHEAD.

MAN BURNED TO DEATH,

AUCKLAND, January 1.

Loss of life and serious damage were caused by a fire at Birkenhead this morning. The outbreak originated in a small cottage near the ferry wharf, and the fire completely destroyed this building and also two stables and other structures, comprising part of Messrs C. Verran and Sons's hostelry. Within an hour these buildings were consumed, and then the charred remains-of Thomas M'Lean, a retired master mariner, 70 years of age, who had occupied the cottage, were found among the embers, The fire was first seen by Captain Benjamin Poole, who nad just returned from his duties on the ferry boat. He immediately awoke Mr J. Verran, who was sleeping close by. The flames were then bursting out of the windows of the cottage, and although the presence of M'Lean in the cottage was surmised all attempts to approach it were rendered futile by the intense heat. The "buildings destroyed covered about threequarters of an acre. The availablo watersupply was in tanks on the seaward side of the burning building, and therefore unattainable, and nothing could be done except to pull down all the buildings connected with neighbouring premises. Some /half-dozen neighbours, aroused by the fire, lent willing assistance, but without appliances they were unable to combat the flames, which, helped by a stiff easterly breeze, made a clean sweep of everything in under an hour.

Unexpected assistance arrived in two long-boats from the German man-of-war Cormoran, which put off at the first sight of the fire. The crew carried a full firemen's outfit of ropes, buckets, hatchets,' smoke jackets, and helmets, and attacked the dangerous sheds with such goodwill that everything was soon in comparative safety. Had it not been for their prompt action in extinguishing the fire, which spread to Messrs Smith and Horton's workshop, half-a-dozen houses, which adjoin each other in an easterly direction, would probably have been destroyed. Had the wind been westerly nothing could have saved them. Mr Verran estimates the damage at £2000. The premises were insured, but the amount of the cover cannot be ascertained.

The body of M'Lean was found by Constable M'Gilp. The head and the limbs had been consumed by fire. Giving evidence at the inquest, Thomas J. M'Lean stated that he identified the body as that of his father, who was last seen at 11.15 p.m. on Tuesday. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death. M'Lean leaves a • widow, five sons, and two daughters. He was in receipt of tho old age pension. «