STABLES ABLAZE

Taranaki Daily News, 4 January 1935, Page 10

STABLES ABLAZE

ELEVEN HORSES SAVED. FINE WORK BY RESCUER. Firemen and a wharf labourer rescued 11 horses from .the stables of a firm of cartage and storage contractors at Richmond, Melbourne, recently, when a fire severely damaged the premises. Screams of fear and sounds of horses kicking and stumbling were heard by a man living near the stables before the fire was seen. When smoke and flames burst from the windows and the roof of the stables, a report was made to the fire station, but the firemen were not told that there were horses in the stables. Great courage was shown by Mr. W. Overmas, wharf labourer, in saving the horses. Near the rear of the building he heard horses plunging, and he ran through an adjoining garden to the front gates of the building, snatched a fireman’s axe and rushed through dense clouds of smoke to the horses’ stalls. Scalding water was pouring down from the burning floor above, and in places Mr. Overmas had to wade through pools of hot . water up to his calves. Some of the horses had fallen in their stalls and had their heads and legs entangled in their halter ropes. Several were plunging and kicking, but others appeared to be too terrified to move. Hacking at the halter ropes with the axe, Mr. Overmas cut the animals free. He then experienced great difficulty in inducing them to leave the building. With assistance from firemen and several employees at the stables, he eventually dragged the horses, on which ashes and embers had fallen, into the street. One horse was severely burned on the head and most of the others suffered less serious burns and lacerations. The firemen, by hosing the horses as soon as they discovered that they were in the building, saved them from death or serious injury.