FIRE AT PORT CHALMERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2801, 20 November 1907, Page 30

FIRE AT PORT CHALMERS.

MAN'S NARROW ESCAPE. ri- One of the oldest buildings in Port Char* l 0 mers was destroyed by fire about 4 a.m. 2s on Sunday, only a portion of the frame* 3 t «-ork being saved, though the Fire Brigade vt was promptly on the spot. The building jo — a two-storey wooden structure containing lo five roonw — belonged to Mrs Simpson, and >© was situated at the rear of Chick's Hotef. Ie The occupants were Mr Albert Major, his y wife and child, and a brother-in-law named d Joyce. Constable Fraeer, who was on duty •c at the time, states that he saw smoke isstt;e ing from the building at 4 a.m., and on hi* arrival the flames wero seen to have at c strong hold of the struoture, which was o burning very fiercely. Mr and Mrs Major, t- who slept upstairs, wero awakened by the y sound of the burning timber, and barely J> had time to make their escape in their n night clothes. On learning that Joyoa '• was still within the building, Oonatabla d Fraser rushed in and discovered Joyce in s an adjoining room, and succeeded with c difficulty in getting him outside. He -. was somewhat stupefied by the smoke and c flames, his singed hair and moustache testr- >- fying to his narrow eeoape from an awful >- death. The building burned so rapidly f that practically nothing oouid be eavecr, and Mr Major, who lost all his effects, ! - estimates his loss at about £80, there being- • no insurance. The buildine was insured! 0 in the Commercial office for £75. 1 I The cause of the fire is unknown, bufc > I it is believed to have originated in Joyce* > room downstairs. Fortunately there was s no wind, and this fact, coupled with the ■ prompt arrival of the brigade, undoubtedly 1 prevented a very serious conflagration and • 1 possibly much more serious consequences 1 . )