THE AUCKLAND FIRE

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11760, 20 February 1919, Page 8

THE AUCKLAND FIRE

THRILLING INCIDENTS. r’Prelia Association. Auckland, Feb 20. At the Thames Hotel, P. N. Jones, of Stratford and wife, who occupied a loom on Street trout of the first floor, were awakened hy falling glass. The husband looked into the passage and saw flames apparently bursting through from the ceiling In his trousers and shirt he made his way some distance down the passage, when he realised that his wife had not followed him. He rushed back to find her anproaching in collapse. Gathering her iu his arms he fought his way down the passage through 18 feet of flames and falling debris to tlie ground floor J. O. Garrard, storekeeper at Ranginri, and wife, who were in a room on the top floor, were compelled to get out on to the street by means of a fire escape. They bad just gone to bed when a smell of burning and smoke poured into ‘he room. The electric light tailed. Rushing to the window Gerrard, clad in a singlet, climbed to the tire escape, and aided his wife out. THE INSURANCES. Auckland. Feb 20 Tie insurances on the Thames Hotel total over £10,750, while there is also a policy against rent losses, which oannot be estimated The figures of the insurance on^stook ? and fittings ara unascertainahle It is difficult to assess the amount of damage but the two top floors ara practically mined and the ground floor is flooded inches deep in water. Young’s mercery shop next door was heavily damaged by water It was insured for £3OO. Evans, fruiterer, also damaged by water, was insured for £2OO.