TIMELY RESCUE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26199, 9 July 1946, Page 4

TIMELY RESCUE

FAMILY IN BURNING HOUSE MILKMEN ACT PROMPTLY EARLY MORNING DRAMA (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, July 8. Two milkmen, Messrs W. H. Davies and R. Williams, were partly responsible for saving the members of a family from a burning house in Somerfield to-day. By a fortunate chance the men had decided to make their delivery in Duncan street about half an hour earlier than usual. They noticed smoke when they were in a street nearby, and when they reached the house at 27 Duncan street about 4 a.m. they saw that smoke was pouring out from a corner of the roof.

Mr Davies summoned the Christ-; church Central Fire Brigade while Mr Williams woke the occupants, Mr anu Mrs W. D. Crawford. An 18-months-old child was carried to safety by Mrs Crawford and her husband,- and Mr Davies carried out a quick*inspection of the house. He found that the fire had a good hold in the sitting poom in front, and was threatening to' spread to the rooms'oecupied by the six other children of Mr and Mrs "Crawford. Two of the children were • choking with the dense smoke when their father reached them. A-few-seconds after they had been carried from the room flames burst out. The men carried out the other children, and just as the last child was taken from its room flames swept along a passage and cut off all the exits.

Engines from the brigade arrived shortly after the call was received at 4.4 a.m.. and the firemen were able to save the house, which is owned by the State, from complete destruction. Two rooms were gutted, and the rest of the building was severely damaged. Mr and Mrs Crawford lost nearly all their possessions in the fire, and this morning they made a makeshift home on the front veranda of the house.