THE WAVERLEY BOARDINGHOUSE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1320, 17 March 1877, Page 9

THE WAVERLEY BOARDINGHOUSE.

A MAN BURNED TO DEATH.

The rumours that were afloat on Wednesday about one of the inmates of the Waverley Boarding-house having perished in the flames— being literally roasted to death — have unfortunately been verified. A young man named Daniel Barrett, a native of Cork, about 20 years of age, was the victim. ■ He was unmarried, a labourer, and had been in the Colony three years. His remains were discovered by Captain Sinclair and Firemen Wicks and Williden, who conveyed the ghastly mass to the Hospital, where an inquest will be held to-morrow. It may be stated that the Police did all they possibly could after the fire broke out in tho way of satisfying themselves that all the hoarders had left the premises. A clue to the origin of the disaster may ba gleaned from the fact that Bernard John Flagherty, who identified the charred remains of the deceased, had seen him at 6.30 p. in. on Tuesday the worue of liquor in Priaces street, and thereupon advised him to go home. It ia reported that in a drunken state ho went into bis room at the Waverley House between one

Bad two o'clock yesterday morning, and was distinctly heard to strike a match on the wall. He then tumbled about as if quite tipsy. This was shortly before the fire broke oub. Mi-s M'Cluskey, who h<»d great difficulty in escaping with her children, is positive that the fire originated in Barrett's room, and another witness can corroborate her testimony. The unfortunate deceased had. been before the City Police Court for drunkenness. He is said to leave % sister employed at Port Chalmers and a brother at the T.iieri.

While Anne Ryan, one of the boarders, was escaping out of the burning house on to the verandah, she slipped and fell heavily to the ground. She was conveyed to the Hospital, when it was found 1 that she had not been seriously hurt The Waverley Boarding-house, which was a trooden two-storey building with 15 rooms, belonged to Mr Henry Williamson, of Cayerahani, who valued ifc at L6GO. It was insured for L4OO in the National Company's office. Mrs J. M'Cluskey estimates her actual loss at L2so— the furniture not having been insured, and LSO worth of notes being destroyed. Owing to the removal of his furniture, Mr Dodds estimates his loss through breakage at L2OO.