FATAL FIRE AT MOTUROA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 10992, 9 August 1897, Page 2

FATAL FIRE AT MOTUROA.

MOTUROA HOTEL BURNED TO THE GROUND. MR W. DRADER AND CAPTAIN TURNER LOSE THEIR LIVES. A shocking fatality occurred about 5 o'clock this (Monday) moruiitg, whoa the Moturoa Hotel, at the breakwater, was burned to the ground. The loss of property is nothing compared to the fact that two lives were lost in the conflagration. Captain Turner, neuter of the Now Plymouth Ilirbor Dredge, and Mr "William Drader, an expert at tho Petroleum Company's Works, both being boarders in the hotel, were burned to death. They were both evidently suffocated in their sleep, and thus suffered a painless death. THE FrRE occurred about 5 o'clock. The first to notice the outbreak was J\li«s M McGill, the cook of the hotel, who slept on the ground floor in the north wing. She gave the alarm, and Mr C. Hawke, the proprietor, at once set to work to rescue his wife and family of five children, all of whom were sleeping on the ground floor in the north v»ing of the hotel. Mr Hawke states that when ha was aroused he did all he could to save lifo, the saving of property being out of the question, and tried all ha knew to arouse the inmates (the boardors) of tho upper floor. He at first tried to rash through from tho sleeping apartments to the room whore a small billiard table was situated, but the overpowering effects of the smoke drove him back ; tml he them rushed to the front and yelled, and tried all he knew to arouse tho inmates of the upper floor, who were threa in number — Captain Turner, Mr W. Drader, and Mr C. Webberley— both the latter being associated in the Petroleum Coinpauy's operations. Others also arrivod on the scene, but the hotel went like a piece of matchwood, and was soon enveloped in fUmes. HE LEAPT FOR LIFE. Mr C. Webberley, who is employed as engine - driver at the petroleum works, had a narrow escape. He was sleeping in No. 2 room next to Mr Drader, who v.as in No. 1, the room faci«g tho main entrance to the hotel. Mr Webberley states that he was aroused by shouting— probably Mr Hawkb'seffior s to arouse the inmates of tho upper floor — and when ho looked round he caw flames bursting in, and felt a suffocating feeling, which was from the smoko. When he saw the predicament ha was placed in, he made a rush for the window and, without stopping to open it, crashed through the sigh, glaß3 and all —he scarcely knew how he did it — and jumped a distauco of some twenty feet on to the hard road. He miraculously escaped without broken bones, but the fiame3 had scorched his hands and what scanty attire he had on at the timo. He thinks the fire had just licked his hand, which was outside the bed clothes, and tho pain bad partly aroused him. - THE DEATHS. All that remained of the two burnt persona when the firo had practically burnt itself out were two charred trunks. Mr Drader'n remains consisted of tho simple trunk, all the extremities being burnt off, and part or the poor follow* backbone was noticed among lbs debris. Captain Turnei, who slept in No. 6, on the opposite side of the pa«sige, was burned nioro dreadfully than Mr Drader. The trunk was almost reduced to a cinder, through being over the main body of the firo, and where tU* more combustible uaateriil was situated. Both trunks had fallen through with the ironwork of the beds to the ground, aud were found with corresponding location to the rooms they occupied, Tho remains were placed in sacking and conveyed to the Petroleum Worko by Messrs McLister, C. Menzies, of tho Petroleum staff ; Messrs T. Inch, F. McAllum, Constables McGill, Lynd, and others. FURTHER DETAILS. How the fire originated is not known, but once it started the building wis doomed, for the place went like a matchbox, and there were no water appliances with which to attempt to resist its progress. As before stated Miss McGill gar a the alarm through seeing the reflection, and >Mr Hawke at once s«t to work to get his fivu young children and wife out of the building ; after which he tried aaltl t ho knew.io grouse tba occupants of the upper floor. The Cra was then uweepitig from tho north end of ttia structure, and hal evidently started in or near the fireplate at the back of the bar. This location garo the upper floor occupants a poor chance of escape, as they were sleaping overhead ; and both Mr Drador and Capt. Turner were suffocated in their sloep, and thus met a painless end. The way the bodies fell to the ground would lead on* to infer that mch was the case, for neither appears to have struggled at all. There wai no chance of arresting the fl inaes, and willing workers who arrirod on the scene at ones set to work to prevent the fire spreading to Mr W. J. Honeyfield's housa adjoining, which is now occupied by Mr W. D. Campbell, of the Taranaki Freezing Works. The fence bounding Mr J. C. Honeyfield'a proptrty was also ignited, and a great deal was pulled down to prevent tho spread of the flames. Among those who were early on the scene and did good work were Messrs R. Honeyfield, F. Putt, Henwood, Giddy, White, and T. Inch. Mr J. C. Honeyflold, who lives near, was also quickly aroused by the firs, md he with his wife and family did all they could to assist, and pi o vide refreshments ftr the workers. The building simply burned like a match box, and was soon levelled to the ground. Whon tho news wai generally known in town kundreds of person* Went out, and sincere regret was expressed on all hands at the untimely death of the two victims of the fire Mr Hawke cannot account for the origin. Ho mates that he, Mr McLister, and Mr Drader sat up talking till about 12 o'clock in the parlor next tho bar. Mr Drader came from town about 11 o'clock, aud stired the few embers in tha fireplace to havo "a warm," as he termed it, before he went to bed. From this fact Mr Hawka states that he wis cerUiri ths fire \v;» black out before they retired. Mr MoLUter, who lives at Mr W. Honevfialil'*, left- for his place of abodo, and Mr Dradsr retired to bed. The only deduction to ba made is tlMi£_-tho ' fire originated near tha Hreplace "or, chimney through some cauio, and wlut lt<adb to this opinion is tho faotrthat Capt. Tumor, who 3lept almost over the parlor in whiuh tha fireplace was situated, was burnt almost to a cinder; while Mr Drador s body was only burnt at the extremities. Drader ani McLister, jast bo 'en retiring on Sunday night, were talking over thair baring duties for the following day. Mr Lister had to work a illicit shift from about six o'clock this inonrng to noon, when Drader was to reliove him. At that hour the Government Inspector of Boilers had appointed to meet him at the works to inspect tho boiler. Webberley would also have gone on duty at noon. THE BURNT MEN were both well known in tko town apd district. Mr Drader came hore some four years ngo a3 a petroleum expert. He was only 25 years of age, beiug 'a native of tho city of Petrolia in Canada. He was of Gormau^^&jspent. His falhar and brother* ara all asS^fiii in tho oil trade, both in Canada au<?9£uropo. Mr Drader loft Canada when a youth, a id v.orkod for somo years as a petroleum export, in Galioin, in Austria 110 left thoro under euyagofnent to bore for artesian water in tho big back blocks of Now South Wales aud Queensland, and from there was engaged to diill for poti oleum at Moturoa. A real whito man he was at heart, and those who had tho melancholy duty of looking at the ohar: ad re nains this (Monday) morning could near elj- b.Jiov? thafcJUiat wa B »U'

that remained of the kind-hearted, genial, generous " Bill " Drader. Many f riends will deplore his sad end when in the full vigor of manhood. He used to be proud of the fact that he was never ill in his lire, and that he was possessed of a constitution that was secundus nulli. He was very careful in raspect to fire, and bad often expressed the opinion that it was dangerous to sleep in any upstairs building open to the public on account of the liability to fire, and the few dunces one would have in escaping if he was aroused, like Mr Webberley was, when he was surrounded by flames and almost suffocated with smoko. Several friends were sneaking to him on Sunday night in town, and no one imagined then thii a few hours afterwards they were to look on a burnt piece of bone and flesh as all tint remained of a.down right solid go id man. Mr Drader had had many narrow escapes from deaih in his petroleum experience, and he more than o. ice iuGalicia had been picked up " as it were and thioiva bodily to the gfouHd by natural ga3 explosions. Mr Drader was unmarried. ' Captain Turner was mare intima'ely connected with Waitara than New Plymouth. He originally came from Nelson, and for many years navigated small steamers between Waitara and Mokau". Some mouths ago he was engaged by the New Plymouth Harbor Board to take command of the Thomas King dredge, and he was under this engagement when he met hit fate this (Monday) morning. He had no family in Taranaki, and was recognised as a single man. Ho- was a bluff, good natured man, but rathor reserved. On Saturday uight he was in town, and spoke to several acquaintances. He was about 55 years of age. THE SCEN3 THIS MORNING. When the scene of the fire was visited this (Monday) morning all that remained was the chimney stacks, the twisted corrugated iron of tha roof, the warped ironwork of btditeads, and other noa-inflam-mable material. The fire had practically made a clean sweep. Mr Samuel, the Chairman of the Petroleum Company, the Herald representative, and others were early on the scene. The townspeople were unaware of the fire until word was brought in this (Monday) morning. The nightwatchman, however, observed the reflection, and at once gave the alarm at the Fire Brigade Station. There was, however, no hops of tha Brigade doing any "good. Mr Halsill, the night watchman states :—: — " I saw a reflection of fire this (Monday) morning about 5 o'clock, and at once called up the members ofihe Fire Brigade who live at the station. They thought it was too far to go out, but Mr Brown, one of the firameu, rode out on his ' bike' to see. Ho brought word back that the Moturoa Hotel was burned down, and three persons missing who mere supposed to be sleeping on the place." OTHER PERSONS MISSING. A report spread that n third person was missing, but on enquiry this was found to be baseless. INSURANCES. The hotel building, which was the property of Mr Hawke, was insured in the Norwich Union for £500, aud the contonts wsro insured in the Imperial Officrf for £350. FUNERAL OF THE VICTIMS. The funeral of both of the victims will leave the hospital, New Plymouth, at 2.30 p.nr. to-morrow (Tuesday). - Mr Drtder was unmarried, tnd had, we understand, no relations either in N«w Zealand or Australia. The directors of the New Plymouth Petroleum Company are making the necessary arrangements for his funeral, and have meanwhile shut down the works for to-day and to-morrow out of respect to his memory. His iorvices to the company will be sadly missed, and he is deeply regretted by the directors and by the staff, all of whom were much attracted te him on account of his estimable qualities and amiability of dispo ition. The inquest on the bodies' was proceeding thb afternoon.