SCENE AT THE DUNEDIN FIRE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 890, 15 September 1879, Page 2

SCENE AT THE DUNEDIN FIRE.

One of the most exciting experiences was that of two young men, named Peter Grant (son of Mr. Grant, of Gowrie, West Taieri), and JlTdward Jenkiiißon (son of Mr. J. H. Jenkinson, Port Molyneux), who, being ongngeel m foundry work m Dunodin, occupied a room belonging to Mr. Wilson, and fronting the street on the third storey, being, that at the c^'ner next the Athenreum. Next to their room was one occupied by Fred and Robert Wilson ; then came a room occupied by Lily, Louisa, and Sarah Wilson, and the servant, Maggie M'Cartney ; and next to this room, directly opposite the stairway, was Mr. and Mrs. Wilson's bedroom, m which their son Oliphant also slept. On the opposite side of the passage was a long room looking to the back, m which four servant girls, waiting for places at "Mrs. Wilson's registry office, slept. Grant was awoke by a cry of " Fire !" and roused Jenkinson. They lit a candle, and found the room full of smoke. Looking out of the front window, they saw the flames coming out of the cafe windows on the ground floor. At the same moment, two men, evidently boarders at the cafe, came to their door, attracted by the light, and crying, " For God's sake show us an outlet." Grant opened the door, and the room filling with smoke and heat, he and Jenkinson made for the passage. Neither thought of their watches underneath their pillows, nor did Jenkinson remember a purse with about £6 m it on the table. Grant was fortunate enough to pick up a pair of trousers, m which £2 were ; he also, as he was going out of the door, picked up another pair of trouseis, and his Volunteer carbine and cutlass. Both tried to explain to the two men to follow them, and to show them the stairs. One of the men took hold of Jenkinson and held on till nearly at the top of the stairs, but then let go. As they reached the top of the stair, a tongue of flame was roaring along the passage. How they reached the bottom floor neither knows, but after getting outside and having breath of fresh air, the subject of what had become of the two men and of the Wilson children was broached. The two agreed to go upstairs again, and although they describe the heat as something fearful, especially on the centre floor, they did get up, Grant leading. Just oil the landing Grant found Louisa Wilson, whom he took m his arms. It was impossible to go any farther, and another scramble downstairs succeeded. Both state that when they turned to go back they despaired of reaching the bottom again. However, they did so, j both getting burned on the hands and also on the face slightly, with the addition of a good deal of singeing about the hair. On the way down they met three policemen attempting to make their way upstairs, but these were unable to get beyond the first landing, where I they sang out to attract the attention of these above. . Grant took Louisa Wilson to the Octagon Hotel. In the meantime Lily Wilson had got out of her bedroom window, and had lain down at full length upon the parapet below the window-still to escape a tongue cf flames coming out. Jenkinson saw her, and a blanket having been got, he called out to her to throw herself down. She did this, but striking an archway over the street door, she gave a rebound outßide the blanket and fell on the pavement. Jenkinson pioked her up and carried her to the Octagon Hotel. She was quite sensible, and complained of her back. . While Lily was. at the window, someone came out of Fred Wilson's window. He clambered along the parapet till he reached the corner, and when Jenkinson went away with Lily he was hang* ing to it by the hands. The young men themselves escaped with nothing but coat and trousers, and Grant handed over the extra pair of trousers he brought down to an unfortunate fellow he found downstairs without any, and who asked for them.