FIRE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 5032, 13 June 1889, Page 3

FIRE.

TWO HORSES BURNED. About half-past six last evening the rarely hoard notes of the fire-bell set all the townspeople wondering “ where’s the fire ? ” The fire brigade turned out promptly, and not having far to go with their apparatus, the fire was kept within moderate limits. The scene was a small shed at the rear of Mr Beckingham’s workshop. Ihe shed was divided into two, one halt being used as a store by Mr Beckingham, the other as a stable for throe horses, by Messrs Morgan and Co., butchers. Mr Scarf left the stable at five minutes past six, when there was no sign of fire ; the horse feed was stored in the other half of the shed, and Mr Scarf went there too, and stated he left all safe. Twenty minutes lat-T a neighbour observed that the place was on fire, and that the fire appealed to have started in the storeroom. An alarm was quickly given, and then attempts were made to get out the three horses, attempts which led to an exciting scene. One horse was got out all right. The lire spread swiftly through the stable litter and the other two horses became demented as horses do when surrounded by fire, and could not be got out. One actually rushed into the burning stable ngiin after being got out. The other was coming out, oil ablaze, when it fell suffocated, in the doorway. The first then came out over the prostrate body of its mate, with its coat nearly all burnt off, or burning. A young neighbour fetched a fowling piece, and fired two shots at the poor brute’s head somewhat recklessly* and to the danger of people looking on. Ihe shots failed to kill, and another person pat the poor beast out of its misery with the blow of an axe, and the same merciful treatment was accorded the one lying in the doorway. The fire was confined to the shed, a brick party-wall fortunately separating it from Mr Beckingham’s workshop. Mr Beckingham had a quantity of tow and two cases of Vienna chairs (six dozen each) stored in his compartment, and besides the horses Messrs Morgan and Co, lose a quantity of saddlery and harness. The former estimates his loss at £6O or and could not tell last night whether he had any insurance on either shed or contents. Messrs Morgan and Co estimate their loss at £4O or £SO.