LUGGAGE VAN ON FIRE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144051, 22 March 1913, Page 4

LUGGAGE VAN ON FIRE.

PASSENG ER S’ PROPERTY BURNED.

Tor Press Association. DANNEVIRKE, March 20. An unusual occurrence of a tiro in » luggage van took place this afternoon on the north-bound Napier mail train,' t couple of miles on the Dannorirkc sid« of Pnputuwu. The van was an auxiliary at the rear of the train. On account of the holiday traffic it was filled : with luggage, motor cycles, bicycles, and luggage. The smoke was first noticed by. a passenger, who informed the guard. The train was taken back to Papatawa in the hope of being able to extinguish the outbreak. By the time it got there the van was rod hot, and it was found impossible to approach the doors. The water supply was ineffective. The flames' blazed until the contents writ reduced to cinders and the van gutted.' Several dogs in the box were smothered by the smoke. How tlio five occurred is difficult to say, as everything appeared safe when the luggage was put in at Woodville shortly before. The estimate of loss is impossible to say, as there was no list of the contents. The only nay of arriving at an estimate is by the passengers’| claims on the department. It is. how-j ever, undoubtedly heavy, as the van' was crammed, and everything was destroyed. A bride on the train is reported to have lost all her wedding presents, while another passenger bad nearly £2O in single notes in a bay destroyed. Many passengers were proceeding to Napier to participate in the competitions there, and many heavy losses of expensive clothing are reported.

Fortunately the van destroyed was at the rear of the train, otherwise more serious consequences might have been involved. Tito mails were in tho van next the engine, and consequently were safe.