EXTENSIVE FIRE. BUILDINGS IN PRINCES-STREET DESTROYED.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 106, 13 June 1885, Page 3

EXTENSIVE FIRE. BUILDINGS IN PRINCES-STREET DESTROYED.

The Inmates Narrowly Esoapo With Their Lives.

Another fire broke out shortly before midnight, on June 9, the scene on this occasion being Princes-street. The result of the conflagration was the total destruction of a block of two-story buildings at the corner of ,Princes-street and Waterloo Quadrant occupied by Mr Pearce as a boardinghouse, the almost complete demolition of Mr Hatswell's well-known grocery establish ment in Princes-street, and damage to the houses occupied by Mies Temple Mr A. K. Murray, and Mr Robley, baker It scarcely required the continuous ringing of the firobella to apprise citizens of the fact that a large fire was raging in our midst. The flames rose to an immense height, and the high level on which the doomed houses Btood enabled the lament able but nevertheless peculiarly grand spectacle of the blazing pile to be seen from all parts of the city and suburbs. The fire is believed to have broken out in the rear portion of the wooden block occupied by Pearce, who, it may be mentioned, has charge of the Waitemata Billiard-room. The Fire Brigade and Salvage Uorps wore on the ground with their appliancos within a few rninutes of the alarm being given, but even in that short space of time the fire had made remarkable progress.

Pearco's Buildings woro a Mass of Flames which wore ascending through the windows and roof, and extending to Hatswell'g on the northern side. Sovoral leads of hose were speedily connected with tho adjacont hydrants, and brought to bear on the fire from front and rear. It was, however, apparent that thoBiigadehad an unusually hard task be! ore them. There was a fresh south westerly breeze blowing, and this fanned the llames to greater fierceness, and soon carried them over tho roof of Mr Hatswell'sshop, Theshinglosignitedlike tinder, and in less time than it takes to describe its progress on paper, the fire had completely covered the upper part of Hatewell's. Branchman Moore and Fireman Rackstraw carried a lead of hose up on to the verandah of the shop, and played through the upper windows, but for a time the water appeared to exercise but little effect. Meanwhile, the Salvago Corps, members of tho Is aval Brigade and spectators, were busily ongaged in removing furniture and goods from theeo and other premises in danger, and storing them on tho opposito sido ot tho roadway, where they were covered with tarpaulins provided by the Salvage Corps.

Exciting Scene. The scene in Waterloo Quadrant at this time was a most exciting ono. Miss Temple's two-story wooden houso was only separated by a passage four feet in width, and its position, even under the most favourable circumstances, was a very dangerous one. When the roof of Pearce's collapsed, the flames ascended to a great height, and were then swept over Miss Temple's by the fresh breeze blowing. Several leads of hose were brought into requisition, but without appreciable effect. A ladder was then obtained, and Branchman G. Finlay and Fireman McCabe asconded to the roof, and proceeded to doiugc it with water. Thoir efforts appeared to have been crowned with success, when suddenly the outer walls of j Pearce's collapsed, and tho protection which they had afforded to Miss Temple's was gone. The flames,strengthencd by tho breeze, swept over tho latter place again, and soon filled the interior of the upper rooms. Holes weie cut in the I'oof, and tho nozzle of tho branch inserted in the apertures, thus enabling tho water to play on the interior of the room. But it was fully ten minutes before tho plucky branchmen managed to get the fire in that part of the building under control. Meanwhile, the fire in Hatswell'shad been extinguished,loavingtheplacecomplotelygutted. Kooley'sroof repeatedly ignited during the progress of the fire, but a jet of water removed tho source of danger in this direction. The roof of Mr A. K. Murray's house, next to Miss Temple's, also took tire several times, but the ilamos thero wero extinguished safely before very great damage was done. The heat of the tire may be imagined from the fact that the telegraph pole at the corner of tho street was repeatedly on fire, and required occasional attention from the firemen to prevent it burning through and letting the wires down. An hour after the alarm was given, nothing remained of Pearce's but a heap of smouldering ruins, while Hatswell's was very little better. The fire at this time was practically at an end, and the crowd which had assembled gradually dispersed.

Discovery of the Fire. The first alarm appears to have been given by a man named R Lamonde, employed as waiter at the Northern Club, which is directly oppo&itc Pearce's. ITe says he was standing at the Club door, and saw sinoke issuing irom one of the upper windows of tho corner block, close to the big chimney. This was at tvventy-fivo minutes to twelve o'clock. There was no person in eight, and he went direct to tho tirebell about thirty yards distant, but rangseveral times beforegottingany response from tho town bells. Within two minutes from the timo ho saw the smoke, flames had burst out. Two men then came running out from a doorway in Waterloo Quadrant, and made their way into Princesstreet. Lamondo further says that there were no lights to be seen in any of the windows, excepting that a light subsequently appeared in Hat& well's grocery, but ho did not &co anybody como out.

Miraculous Escape. Tho occupantd of Pcarco's house appear to havo bad a narrow escape. Mrs Pcarco and her littlogirl, and thrco lodgers, named Joslin, Hayward and Gordon, were all in bed in their respective rooms. Tho discovery was made by Gordon, who says he had been dozing, when he was recalled to his senses by the smell of smoke. He thought first that he must have been smoking, but the feeling of oppressiveness increased, and getting up he saw the reflection of fire through the back staircase-window. Thero was not a moment to lose, and hastily arousing the other occupants of tho house, he asfisted Mrs Poarco and the little girl to effect their escape, which they managed to do by tho staircase So hasty was their exit that they had not time even to put on wrappers, and were compelled to run out in their nightdresses. Hayward and Joslin wcro not so hurried in their nnovements. They partially dressed themselves, and then discovered that escape by means of the staircase was entirely cut off by the flames. Their inventive faculties were brought into play by the necessity for a speedy departure, and an effective fireescape was quickly improvised from

Two Bed Sheets Tied Together. These were let down through the window, and enabled Hayward and Joslin to reach tetra jfirma in safety, Mrs Pearce and the

child had meanwhile been taken to the Masonic Hotel, where their comfort waB attended to. Mr Hatswell and family had also a narrow escape. Mrs Hatswell wae awakened by the Bmell of smoke, and called to her son. He got up to ascertain the cause of the alarm, and found dense clouds of smoke ascending from the window of Pearce's kitchen. The whole family were awake by this time, and they lost no time in making their escape. Mr B. Keesing, who resides in the brick house opposite, kindly gave them temporary shelter. In the meantime Master Hatswell had continued the alarm previously rung out on the Princes -street bell by Lamonde. The occupantsof several neighbouringhouses were frightened to such an extent by the appearance of the conflagration that they Eed with what littlo clothes they could get together. They had, however, no difficulty in obtaining sholter elsewhere.

Origin of tho Fire. Tho origin of the fire appears to be wrapped in the most profound mystery, but thero ia very little doubt that the outbreak occurred in Pearce's kitchen. The weight of testimony tends in this direction. On the other hand, Mrs Pearce and Gordon both express the bolief that the fire originated between their house and Hatswell's. Gordon, Joslin, Hay ward, and Mrs Pearce went to bed about ten o'clock, after having extinguished the fire in the diningroom by pulling the burning log out of the grate and throwing a jug of water on the embers. There had been a fire in the kitchen during the earlier part of the evening, but it was put out between eight and nine o'clock. E.oth, the other lodger, and Mr Poarce had not come home, and were in fact in tho billiard-room of tho Waitemata Ilotol together w hen tho alarm was given. They reached the scene too lato to aavo anything,

Extent of the Damage It is expected that the damage will amount to between £4,000 and £5,000. The two story block at the corner, occupied by Peavce, has been converted into a heap of ashop, while the whole interior hao been burnt out of Hatswell'«, leaving only a charred shell standing. In Waterloo Quadrant, the roof and one eide are burnt ofiMieS TcmpVs house, while considerable damage has been done to the roofs of Robley's and Mu i ray's. The three latter can bo repaired, but JUatsvveli's will require to be rebuilt Looking at the scene of the fire to-day, the wonder is that the Brigade manage i to confine the lire to the buildings attbeted, and certainly few of the spectators las>t night had any hope that its progress down Waterloo Quadrant,for four or five doors at least, could be prevented.

Loss and Insurances. Tho whole of the buildings affected by the fire were owned by Mrs Outhwaito, and it will bo remembered that tho promises at the corner wero used as (Jovernmont offices during tho Waikato var. Two (ires have previously broken out in tho block, one being many years ago, and another quite recently, Mrs Outhwaito has Harwell's premises insured in the Royal for £200 ; L'earco's shop and boarding-foouso in the New Zealand for £400; Miss Temple's premisos in the Northern for £200 ; and Waterloo House, for CGOU in the same company. The brick building occupied by Kobloy is also insured, Mr Uatswpll's loss will bo very hea\y. Ho was insured for £400 in the Colonial, but this docs not neaily represent tho valuo of tho goods dostroyed His piano was saved, l'earco was insured for £300 in tho Fire Association, and estimates his lots at £100 above that amount. The lodgers all lost what property they had Roth is the most unfortunate, and £100 \\ ill scarcely cover hip losb. Ho h a building contractor, and all his tools and effect 1 - have been destroyed, besides the plans of a house which ho was about to build at Mount Albert. When the lire broke out he was with Mr Feirce at his billiard-room, and the two were about to start for home when the bells rang. Gordon who is a plasterer out of employment, saved a po-tmantcau, but lost some clothes, &c Hay waul, who is a tailor employed at Woollams, is minu3 his watch and chain and clotho*, valued in all at £20, while Joslin, employed at llobloy's, also loses his c (loots*. Two other boarders named Morgan and Orr were fortunato enough to ha\o loft Peaice's ye&tculay, Mr A. K. Mini ay's furniture was insured in tho London and Lancashire for £440, and of this C 1 00 was reinsured in tho Imperial His loss will only consist of that occasioned by lcmoval of the furniture. Miss Temple's stock and furniture, which is also damaged by removal, is insured for £300 in the Fire Association.

Porsonal Notes. The Fire Brigade deserve great credit for the manner in which they worked. The Salvage Corps, Naval Artillery, and police, under Sergeant Pratt, all rendered valuable assistance. Detcctivos Twohey, Hughes, and Jones were also in attendance, and had their hands full in their own departments of duty. Mr W. G. Connolly, an honorary member of tho Firo Brigade, had his cheek scratched against a wooden projection while coming through the passage between tho two houses. Several gentlemen from the Northern Club rendered assistance in saving furniture immediately after the alarm was given, and amongst these was Dr. Bullen.