THE FIRE AT BALOLUTHA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1382, 25 May 1878, Page 5

THE FIRE AT BALOLUTHA.

IBy Telegraph. |

The inquest touching the origin of the fire at the Newmarket Hotel was held on the 15th at the Court-house, Balclutha, before E, H. Oarew, Esq., R.M.. and a, Jury of thirteen. Mr T. T. Ritchie was chosen foreman.

In3peotor Thomson and Detective Neil watohed the proceedings on behalf of the police, aad Mr Donald Reid on behalf of the insurance companies. Robert Grigor, surveyor, said he prepared the plan of the buildings (produced.) It was merely the ground plan of the remains of the Newmarket Hotel, which had lately been destroyed by fire. (The witness here described the plan.) William Warring, police constable, stationed at Balclutha, sworn, said : On the night of the 11th May last he was on duty in the town. At midnight he Baw the hotel closad. He saw lights in three rooms and the bed-room occupied by the barman and the billiard-marker. It was the bedroom situated over the bar. He saw % dull light in Mr Dunne's bed-room on the ground-floor, ako a light in the far-off sittingroom, facing Renfrew street. He looked through that window, and there was a little fire burning in the grate. The grate was about the middle of the wall of the room. The town was perfectly quiet, and he came away. He saw no one in the hotel. (At this stage of the proceedings all witnesses were ordered out of Court at the request of Inspector Thomson.) He (the witness) aid not hear any noise in the house as if anyone was about. As the evening was a very wet one, there had not been many people in the hotel that night. It was about 12.55 when he returned to the camp, and about half-past one he was called by Sergeant Daley, who, at the same time, was calling out " fire." He at once proceeded to the Newmarket Hotel, and saw that the whole of the building was enveloped in flames. He saw Mr and Mrs Dunne and the servant girl. They were in front of the hotel almost naked. He asked Mr Dunne if he thought there was anyone left in the house. Mr Dunne replied that he was not quite certain, but that a man went to bed in No. 3 bedroom, and no one had seen him. Someone had been up to the room and called him, but got no answer. He saw it was utterly impossible to go to the room then, as it was all on fire. He then assisted to remove the buggies and harness. After which he went to the hall to help to get the things out. In reply to the Coroner, witness said the hall caught on fire before we could remove anything, and just as the door was broken in. The forms and the piano were saved. He was in the habit of visiting the hall, and everything seemed in its usual place. The piano was at the further end from the door. He then went to Blues and Co.'s store, and helped to remove as much property as possible. There was a great deal of property saved from the store. While they were removing it the store caught on fire. Examined by Mr Reid : He got to the Police Camp about five minutes to one, and he left the window fivp minutes before. Not more than 40 minutes elapsed between the time he left the hotel and when he was caller! by Sergeant Daley. When he got these he found it all on fire. There was a south wind blowing. He should say that the fire originated on the ground floor.

To His Worship : The upper part opposite Renfrew street was on fire when he got there. To Mr Reid : The wind blew in the direction of the hall from the hotel. There was no light in the upstairs rooms at the south end of tho hotel. It would be hard to say how long the fire had been burning before he saw it, because the hall was burnt down in about 10 minutes, It spread like wildfire. It must have been burning 10 minutes before he saw it. To His Worship: He did feel very much surprised at the fire making such rapid progress. The fire in the grate in the back room was burning pretty brightly when he looked in. There was not much of it.

To Inspector Thomson : Mr Dunne's room was, he believed, an addition to the hotel near the hall (plan shown) and room pointed out by witness.

To a Juror : He stayed at the fire till 6 a.m. John Finn, labourer, residing at Balclutha, said that about a month ago he waa in company with a Mr Campbell at the hotel in the big dining-room. While there, Mr Campbell said, "there is an awful strong smell of smoke, we will go and see where it is." They then went into the little back parlour, and found that tho mantelpiece was on fire." There was a blaze of about six inches. They thiew a tumbler of water on the blaze and baw that tho firo then had originated from the ashes in the grate falling close to the foot of the mantelpiece, and after it was put out Mr Campbell called out to the barman to look out as the house had been nearly burnt down, Re believed that if any,

one had not gone into the room within half-an-hour the hotel would have been burnt down. Mr. Dunne's name was not mentioned when we called out about the fire.

To Inspector Thomson : He did not know whether Mr Dunne has since taken steps to prevent the recuirence of the fire.

To a Juror : It would be after 10 o'clock at night when that fire occurred. Clifford Christie, traveller for the " Clutha Leader," sworn said, he had been a boarder at the Newmarket Hotel for five years. He knew the small dining-room and the fireplace there, and he did not consider the fireplace to be safe from fire.

To Hia Worship : The reason he thought so was because thero a vary strong drauaht there, and there used usually to be a large fire which used to burn like a furnace, and lignite was usually burned and caused a lot of ashes which used to fall down about the wood work of the mantel piece, which was not protected by iron, and in his opinion the danger consisted in the ashes and cinders tailing down and collecting round the woodwork of the mantelpiece and charring it. The wind did not blow downthe chimney. On the Saturday evening previous to the fire he was sitting in the room with Mr Farren, when a gentleman came in and noticed a live cinder close to the right leg of the mantelpiece in a small hole burnt into the leg, which he removed with his penknife. They spoke of the danger of a fire occurring in that way. By a Juror : He never called Mr Dunne's attention to it. The aches, he believe^, were allowed to accumulate until they were in the way, and then they were removed. He did not know another fireplace with such a strong draught. By Mr Carew : There was an asiipan, but when it got full the ashes would fall over the side. A large brick was added in the beginning of the present winter to try and prevent the draught. By Inspector Thomson : There was a fender there on the -Saturday evening. Ke did not know if Mr Dunne's attention had been called to the danger. By a Juror : He did not know if the fender in this case was inside or outside the legs of the mantelpiece. Robert Smith, labourer, Balclutha, deposed that he was in the Nawmarket Hptel last Saturday night. He left about five minutes to twelve, when they were putting out the lights in the dining-room. He was net in the small dining room at the back. He saw no stranger in the house when he left. He did not notice or smell any fire. Dr Smith and he left the hotel together and went up the street, and stood at the corner of Mr John M'Neil's place, where they talked for about an hour. He then went home. Up to this time he noticed no fire. Allan Cameron Campbell, tailor, Balclutha, deposed that he was in the Newmarket Hotel last Saturday night, and left a little before twelve. He was sitting in the back parlour or dining-room. He went into the hotel about ten, and was in about an hour and a half. He was first in the back parlour with Mr Dunne, and while coming out with him someone called him into the front parlour, where he found Robert Smith and Dr Smith. He thought he was twenty minutes in the back parlour. The three of them left together while the house waa being closed. He was twenty minutes with M<" Dunne (who had been in Dunedin that day) talking about building society matters, but not in connection with his own property. He was I President of the Clutha Building Society. He knew Mr Dunne very well, and there was nothing unusual in his manner. He remembered being in the back room with Mr Finn about a month ago. (He then corroborated Mr Finn's evidence.) The Court then adjourned for half an hour for lunch ; and on resuming,

Daniel Lepine, sworn, said he was barman and bookkeeper at the Newmarket Hotel. He had been in Mr Dunne's employ for about ten months. Ho closed the Newmarket Hotel on Saturday night last, and gave the key of the bar about 12 o'clock to Mr Dunne, and then went to the kitchen and made some brandy hot for himself. He then went ?nto the diningroom and the lower parlour to see if all the lights were out. In the back parlour there was a little fire, only a few embers. There wa3 no fire in the large dining-room. He looked carefully at the fire in the back parlour. There were ashes under the grates. There had been a large fire daring the day. He did not notic? any smoke in the room. He was the last person in the kitchen, and did not think there was any likelihood of the fire originating there. It was usual to keep a fire in the kitchen all night. He afterwards went to bed. Mr Keasley also slept in the same room. To his knowledge there was only one stranger sleeping in the house. Keasley was undressing when he went up-staira, and about five five or ten minutes after he went np-stairs he fell asleep. The next thing he knew was that Keasley was shaking him, and calling out "fire." He jumped out of bed and opened the door, but staggered with the smoke rushing upstairs. It appeared as if the whole body of the house at the rear was in flames. He tied a sheet to the iron bedstead, and Keasley got out and hung on to it. He sung out to tear the other sheet in two and splice it. He then threw out the mattresses. He saw Mr and Mrs Dunne and child at this time in tho middle of the street. Keasley sung out to throw out the boxes, and he did so ; and someone in the street called out for him to jump, and he did so. Mr Dunne had a ladder and was placing it to the window of No. 3 bed-room in the front part of the house. He went up the ladder and pushed in the window and sung out, but got no answera He was driven back by the smoke coming through. He knew Mr Dunne's bed-room. The window faced Clyde street. When he got into the street he could not have got in at the hall door. The fire must have been in tho reom when he jumped out. Someone got out the two books — ledger and daybook. Nothing was saved to his knowledge except what was saved out of his own bed room.

By a Juror : The books were kept on the top of the safe, in Mr Dunne's bed-room.

By His Worship : The cash was banked by Mr Dunne every week, or twice a, week. Whenever he had a i>ound he handed it over to Mr Dumie.

By Inspector Thomson : He thought, from what he since heard, that the fire must have broken out in the back dining-room. He had heard of the mantelpiece being: on fire before. F. W. Keasley, William Fitzgerald, John Macgregor, Alexander Cowie, and Alexander Mollison, were examined, and their evidence corroborated that already given. John Dunno deposed, that ho was proprietor of the Newmarket Hotel. He did not know of anyone except those belonging to the house slept in the house last Saturday night, lie went to bed a little after 12. He had been in Dunedin that day. He immediately went to sleep, and was surprised by a cry of "fire." There was a noise like the train crossing the bridge, TTe had been asleep for a considerable time. He recognised the voice of the groom crying "fire." He at once jumped up, and pulled aside the window blind. lie heaid a frightful noisa, and saw at once that the house was on fhv. Ho got Mrs Dunne and the children out of the window, and put some blankets on them and went back into the room. He then tried to get into the house from the bedroom, and when He opened tho door the room was full of

hot smoke/ He shut the door, and got out into* the street, Mrs Dunne told him that Pat, a man, slept in No. 3. He asked the barman what about tho man in No, 3. The barmaa said he did not knoif. He then got a ladder and put ifc up to No. 3; put _ hia head in and knocked over a mirror and table, and called out, "Come th way, the house is on fire." jtle heard- no one about, and tried the sitting room. He dii not see or hear anyone, and thonght that the man had escaped. By this time the room* h& had left were on fire and all the inner part of the house. The servant called out to save the piano in the hall, and by the time be got to it the windows were cracking. They got in by tho wicket door and saved the piano and a few things. He was insured as follows : stock and furniture in hotel, L 130 0; hotel, L 215 0; hall and furniture. L 1450.

By Inspector Thomson : The dining-room and store-room were next the back parlour. There were spirits and a case or two of kerosene in the storeroom. There were two or three quarter-casks of whisky, and a quartercask or two of brandy, four or five cases of bottled whisky and brandy, aad one case of kerosene. There was no straw in the store* room, and no mutches. He had a quarter- cask of sherry and port, two cases of sarsaparilla, and also bottled beer and porter, and a quarter cask of rum, and other goods. There was a wall between the store room and the back parlour. The atore-room was only an addition to the hotel, and was put on without any addi tion or partition. It was about 13ft squares There was no spirits nearer than 3ft from the back of the fireplace. The stand for holding' the casks was six or eight inches from the ground. He had no reason to believe that the chimney was in a precarious state, and did not think there was any immediate danger.

Inspector Thomson said he saw a telegram to an Insurance Agent stating that Mr Poole can give valuable information as to the origin of the fire. He had telegraphed to him, but had re ceivod no information.

Mr Reid said that he would not ask an adjournment. The Coroner also did not think it necessary.

The Coroner then addressed the Jury, and said they would find libtle or no evidence as to the commencement of the fire ; but it appeared to have originated at the back part of the buildings. With regard to the insurances on the property, they appeared to be very large, but there was nothing to show whether they were out of proportion to the value of the pro" perty, and a solicitor who was acting on the inquest for the Insurance Companies had nofi thought it necessary to put any questions to the witnesses about it. He could Bee no particular parts ot the evidence to which to direot their at« tention, but would leave it to them as a whole to consider their verdict. After a few minutes' consideration the Jury returned a verdict that the fire had originated in the back parlour, but there was no evidence to show how. An inquest v?aa then held on the remains of the man whose bones were found amongst the ruins of the Newmarket Hotel, before E. Carew, Esq., R.M. The same jury were empannelled, and being sworn, Mr T. T. Ritchie was again chosen as foreman. The Jury then viewed the remains. His Worship stated that one part of the duty of the Jury would be to make some kind of identification as to who the deceased was. The evidence as to the fire had already been heard. James Farrell, labourer, residing at Balclutha, sworn, said : He knew a man named Pat. M'Gratb. He lost saw him on Saturday afternoon last. He met Lim in the street near the Newmarket Hotel, about one o'clock In the afternoon. M'Grath was an Irishman, about 35 years, and was a single man. He had known him about 12 years. He was about 13 years in New Zealand. He knew he was going to sleep at the Newmarket Hotel. His swag was there. He (the witness) was at the fire. He did not see M'Grath. The barman asked him if he had seen M'Grath, aud he told him no. He believed that M'Gralh was burned at the fire. M'Grath told him he was going to work on the railway. He had seen the remains, but it was impossible for him to identify them aa M'Grath's remains. To Inspector Thomson : He knew the barman Lepine. He was at the hotel on Friday night, and saw M'Grath to bed that night. He was a sound sleeper. Daniel Lepine, barman, sworn, said : Ho knew the last witness, and he knew Pat. M'Grath by seeing him on Thursdayor Friday. Ho recollected the day before the fire occurred. He saw M'Grath between 7 and 8 on Saturday morning. He went away and came back again before dinner. He went out after dinner, and returned at about half-past 5. He plopt there in No. 3 bedroom. He wa3 the only one except the billiard-marker and witness who slept upstairs. He saw him in bed .at 12 on Saturday night in No. 3 bedroom. Early on Sunday morning the hotel was burned uo;rn. After the fire he heard that the remains of a body had been found. He had not seen the remains, and had not seen M'Grath. There was no other person missing. By Mr Carew: Search was made for M'Grath while the fire was burning. The ladder was put up to the room window by M Dunne. John Gibson Smith, M.D., sworn, said : He saw the remains. They were those of a human body, but it was impossible to say whether of a male or female, they were so much charred up. Edward Burton, sworn, said : He was in the employ of Mr Dunne as boots, ar.il remembered Saturday last. He saw the man they called Patrick M'Grath, but did not know his name then. He showed him to No. 3 bedroom. He did not see him into bed, bst left him with a light. He had not seen him since. He was perfectly sober, and appeared like a man that had been recovering from a drinking bout. He was a little nervous. . ! Sergeant Daly, sworn, said: lie was present at the fire at the Newmarket Hotel. His attention was directed to the runiins of a human body now on view. They wero between the passage and the bar. Apparently the remains fell from the room above. He understood it was a idtting-room just close where the remains were found. No. 3 adjoined the sitting-room. He then had the remains placed in a box and conveyed to the Police Gamp, und they wero the same that had been shown to the Jury. The Coronor said that the Jury would endeavour to determine whether the remains wero those of Patrick M'Grath or of somo person unknown. The next thing was to consider whether that person's death was caused by the fire or by some other mean*. It did not follow because the remains were found in the fire that he died by the fire, but he thought there could be no doubt about that. The Jury then retired, and immediately re, turned. They found that the remains were thoae of Patrick M'Grath, aud that he met his death by the fire, and there was no evidence to show how the fire originated. His Worship, in discharging the jurors, eaid that ho was very much obliged to them for their attendance, and for the careful manner with which they considered the in,atter,