THE FIRE AT FOSTER’S

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 72, 22 February 1918, Page 2

THE FIRE AT FOSTER’S

SECOND EDITION Continued.

—, .. some incidents. At tlie time of the outbreak last night at Wanganui some of the guests were at dinner. So quickly did the fire spread that there was little to do except to make a hasty exit. There was considerable confusion and great excitement. One oi the. guests rushed out on to an upstairs balcony calling ‘‘fire.” Other guests who were in the lounge and smoking room on the ground floor tried to ascend the stairs to save their belongings, but they wore unable to get above the first floor where tin. smoko drove them back.

The town brigade found the building a fiery furnace. Fortunately the night was calm. The brigade’s difficulties were increased by a wretched pressure of water at the outset a trouble that did not improve until the suburban supply was cut off. The Gonville brigade arrived and look the only possible course—an endeavor to save the surrounding buildings.

For Ji time there was grant anxiety that tlia task would bo too rnurii IftV tlio tiro-fighters. The hoarding-house on the opposite side of Taupo Quay caught alight, but the situation was saved. Groat danger threatened the buildings on tlie Avenue frontage and a bucket brigade started operations at Gibbons and Paterson’s Store, but the firemen hooded in wet sacking dragged a hose to the commanding point) and the danger was then obviated. The flames burst through the skylights of Messrs Ross and Glendenning’s warehouse.

It was fully an hour before the brigade had the upper hand. Had the brick wall of the hotel on the Avenue side not stood the test—it bulged ominously—there would have been little hope of saving the adjoining old wooden building tenanted by tiro New Zealand Farmers’ Co-op. Distributing Company. When the fire got into the front bar several explosions were heard. The Westiughonse steamer was brought into action about three quarters of an hour after the alarm was given and as access to the wharf was denied through the Railway gates being locked the steamer was taken to the back of some other premises. While the suction pijife' was being laid a carelessly thrown match set fire to some benzine on the machine and a minor fire broke out, the steamer being for a time in danger of destruction.

Exciting incidents" during the blaze were not wanting. Aiv'hotel waiter hastened towards Airs Foster’s room having heard that she had not got out, and on his way was instrumental in saving the life of a lady guest who had become hysterical.. The waiter bad another experience on the same journey. While getting out through a bedroom, his coat caught on the bed-post and the moment of detention saved him from serious injury as a blazing beam fell a yard ahead of him, 'fbe firemen had also some exciting moments and two of them sustained injuries which necessitated medical attention.

There were some disquieting rumors about loss of life having occurred but fortunately these proved to he untrue "At the time there were in the hotel ninety-two guests who lost their personal effects, the loss being particularly severe in the case of some of the permanent hoarders. Mr J. R. Foster took possession of the hotel eleven years ago and at a comparatively recent date acquired the. full interest in the Foster estate. Mr and Mrs Foster have lost heavily .and much sympathy is felt lor them. ) Refugees from the hotel received 'invieh kindness at the hands of other r hotel keepers and private people. I During the fire the river hank was the scene of salvage, motor cars and household effects having been removed from neighboring premises. I The fire was the largest in Wanaganui since the Loan and Mercantile Company’s premises were destroyed. Many people stayed in the vicinity of the fire until a late hour. When the fire broke out again at three o’clock badly damaging Willis and Co.’s, there seemed a prospect of the Avenue block from Willis’ to the Quay being burned hut the Brigade again worked hard and the flames were got under in an hour or so.

A SECOND OUTBREAK, DESTRUCTION AT WILLIS’S PRINTERY. or Press Association Wanganui, February 22. Another fire occurred at 2.45 this morning, this time in the Willis printing and bookselling establishment, the machine and composing rooms being gutted. The building was situated just in the rear of Foster’s Hotel, and it is surmised that a spark from the hotel fire caused the outbreak. The insurances total £4OOO in various offices. The loss is estimated at £ISOO above that amount.