PHŒNIX HOTEL BURNED DOWN. DAMAGES, £2,000.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 325, 15 December 1888, Page 2

PHŒNIX HOTEL BURNED DOWN. DAMAGES, £2,000.

About hnlf-pa«t twelve on Wednesday morning the Pliotnix Hotel, Mornnsvillr, \v,as found to be on fire, anil in a short space of tinio was totally destroyed. The outbreak occurred in the kitchen, ami spread so rapiJly that the inmates narrowly escaped with fr.eir livi s. There were In the house, an the time : Messrs N. A. Larney, J. Misscn, (Hamilton), and W, Ilogan, besides Mr nnd Mrs Smith, the lessees of tlu hotel, and the servant, mlio slept on tho first floor. The boardeis escaped by jumping from the windows in the second story, a distance of about 15ft., scrambling out and leaving behind a quantity of clothing and effects. Mr Smith states he is a heavy loser, nothing being saved beyond the clothing ho and his wife escaped with. He had just taken in a fresh stock of liquor, etc., for the races, valued at £60. The origin of the outbreak is unknown, beyond the fact that it originated in the kitchen. Mr Smith states that at about ten o'clock he went round the house and locked the doors. Soon after ho went to bed. All was then apparently safe. At half-past twelve as near as he can say, he was disturbed by what he took to be a crackling hoim, and he listened, thinking ifc was footsUps. He also saw a light coming in at the window, which faced the kitchen, but this he imagined io be the moon. Airs Smith was awakened, and after listening awhile she said the house was on fire. They both immediately dressed, and when they opened the door the smoke was blinding, and it was with great difficulty that they apprised the boarders of their danger. Airs Smith in leaving the building- was scorched, bub not 'seriously. She and her husband escaped by means of a ladder. The building was^ almost demolished by the time the neighbours arrived, but they were in time to save the stables. The first man on the scene was Wm. Atkinson, arid with* the assistance of Thos. Hampton, managed to keep the flames from damaging the stable buildings. When they arrived the gable end had just taken fite, but by the application oF water from the pump close by it was soon extinguished. Sergeant Emerson, of Te Aroha, was, present soon after the fire. The premises were insured for £700, and the, stock for £500, but in what office Mr Smith could not state. He 1 estimates his loss to be over £500' above the insurances. The Phami* Hote} consisted of - 17 t rooms, exclusive of thd bar and kitchen, and was erected some six years ago. Mr an«,l ! Mrs Smith have been' iir posses-,, ■ion four yea^r?. ; „1 .>* , ' , It JjagLbeen "ascertained tKiit a tin.box belongingito'the^WHiiba jßoad B<?ard, 4 ■which^as ;in^ie raeetit% i-qoujj has 'been* If w^^^wm • ??p^y^ i i thef