MASTER MARINER’S DEATH

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 7, 3 January 1913, Page 5

MASTER MARINER’S DEATH

burned in a cottage. • (Per Press Association.) Auckland,' January !• Serious damage and loss of life were caused by a fire at Birkenhead early this morning, originating in a small cottage near the ferry wharf. The fire completely destroyed this >ui ing, and two stables and other structures comprising part of Messrs C. Verran and Son’s hostelry yard. Within an hour these buildings were consumed, and then the charred remains of Thomas McLean, retired master mariner, seventy years of age, who had occupied the cottage, were found among the embers. The fire was first seen by Captain Benjamin Poole, who had just returned from his duties on the ferry boat. He immediately awoke Mr J. Verran, who was sleeping close by. The flames were now bursting out of the windows of the cottage, and although the presence of McLean in the cottage was surmised, all attempts to approach it were rendered futile by the intense heat. The buildings destroyed covered about three-quarters of an acre. The only available water supply was in tanks on the seaward side of the burning buildiifgs, and therefore unattainable. Nothing could be clone except to pull down the building connecting with the neighbouring premises. Some half-dozen neighbours were aroused, and lent assistance, but without dppilances they were unable to combat the flames, which, helped by a stiff easterly breeze, made a clean sweep of everything. Unexpected assistance arrived in two long-boats from the German man-o’-war Cormoran, which put off at first sight of the fire. The crew carried a full firemen’s outfit of ropes, buckets, hatchets, smoke jackets, and helmets, and attacked the dangerous sheds with such goodwill that everything was soon in comparative safety. Had it not been for their prompt action in extinguishing the fire, which spread to Messrs. Smith and Horton’s workshop, half a dozen houses which adjoin each other in an easterly direction would probably have been destroyed. Mr. Verran estimates the damage at £2OOO. The premises were insured, but the amount of cover cannot he ascertained.

The body of McLean was found by Constable McGilp. The head and limbs had been consumed by the fire. Giving evidence at the inquest, Thomas J. McLean stated he had identified the body as that of his father. Ho was last seen at 11.15 p.m. on Tuesday. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death. McLean leaves a widow, five sons, and tAvo daughters.