TWO MEN LOSE THEIR LIVES

Colonist, Volume XLIX, Issue 12019, 21 August 1907, Page 5 (Supplement)

TWO MEN LOSE THEIR LIVES

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A SHOCKING OCCURRENCE.

THREE FIREMEN SLIGHTLY INJURED.

About a quarter to ten o'clock on Aug Ist the Wood firebell sounded an alarm, ami n. bright glare in the eastern poition of the Wood showed that thp liio hnd a good hold of some bui ding near tho upper ond of Bri«lgt»-xf.in i:. Those who live in Uio lWality, own-It as thoy were on t.i-0 scenr, fiiinlil not gain admisison to tip bnil.li!% was a shop and ilivrlii* 1 " 'ci nibined, occupied ( nul wo Iwlievt* owned) by Mr John ritiwrt a bootmaker, and situated H Milton-strocr. directly {"opposite Mr (Jlia*. J. Ilarley'g.L residence. Knnno.l ly a strong southerly bripz*, thn flamos had such a hoi I on t'io roar portion of the buil. ling that thn firstcomers could not get b jpnd the shop, the dwelling rooms heine all ablaze. Thn Fire Brigado had the water on veiy quickly, and, fortunately, there was a good supply, otherwise two dwellings to the north, (the leeward side), must also have been destroyed. As it was, both buildings took fire, but the outbreaks were quickly extinguished. The nearer cottage was occupied by two Italian fishermen, who were away at the time, and they had not a great deal of belongings that could take hurt by removal. Mr Norris, who ocoupied a two-storey residence next door but one to that destroyed, must, ho_wever, have suffered considerably through the hasty removal of his effects, the hou>e being emptied. It saemed i npos3ible at ona time that these t#o buildings could be saved, and .the Brigade are to be commended upon their effective work in keeping the lire to one structure.

From the first fears were expressed by those acquainted with the occupiar that he had not been able to get out of t'io burning building. It was also stated tbat two companions had been seen with him that afternoon, and it urs f^nnvl that a double, if not a treble, f.tality had occurred. These grave f»ars proved all too true with respaut to two of the unfortunate mni-. Wben the fire had been sufficient!/ beaten down to allow the liro:n.in to enter the dwelling room at the rear of the shop, the body of a man was 3een near the fire-place. While the firemen were endeavoring to get the body the brick chimney collapsed, and Firemen James Whiting and Edward Woodward sustained some nafity cuts about the head, the former also having his leg badly bruised. Both men had to be helpfd out by their comrades, and ware later removed to Mr C. J. llarley's, where they received kind attention, and wero later seen to by Dr. Andrew. Both men were subvert lently able to walk borne. Fireman Joseph Nesbit also was hurt by t'je falling bricks, one Knee being b'idiv bruised.

Subsequently the body was recovered, very much charred and not recognisable, though from the size there can be no doubt that it is that of Mr John Stewart. Later on the second body was discovered farther back 'in the building, and near the remains of a doorway. This also was much charred, but there seems t » be-no room to doubt that it is the remains of Mr . John Brown, an onginear. Roth bodies wero removed to the Morgue, where they now lie, Sergfc. Dougan and' the members cf tho Police having this duty carried on ft.

it wa3 fenred by some that a third miii was in the building, but a rejiresentative of this paper saw the in n referred to at bis own residence h ihsoqußnt to the fire. Uotli the men who lost their lives wore well-known victims of the drink habit, and the three men — Stawarfc, JJrown, and Ogilvie — had been together during the afternoon, t'to fonutfr two, it is stated, being without doubt,under the influence cf liijuor. Hrown has been living with Stfi»art, these being the only occupants of the house, ' and one of the 1 kalians, through the window, saw Mrown in his bedroom in the afternoon.

Ogilvie says that it was afternoon when ho left Stewart and Brown, this with the Italian's statement, makes the identity of the victims of the tragedy protty certain.