FIRES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13685, 29 August 1908, Page 5

FIRES.

THIRTY MINERS KILLED.

Hressi Association-By Telegraph -Copyright NEW YORK, August, 27. A disastrous fire .occurred' at, Haikyville coalmine, Oklahoma. It is believed that thirty men have been suffocated. Twenty-six bodies have been recovered. BLAZE IN ASHBURTON. . - t TWO LIVES LOST. Per Press Association. ASHBURTON, August 28. One of the most disastrous fires in the .history of the, town occurred at 10 o'clock last night, and besides destroying the main portion of one of the principal brick buisineris blocks, was" resjionsible ' for:. the loss of two lives; The' lire 'broke' out tin a two-storey building occupied by A. L. Zouch, dentist, and after completely 'destroying- it,; spread to-the' ishopV on either side, some'of'which were > Mr Zouch, his two assistants arid- a servant girl escaped safely, 'but--Mrs -Zouch the mother of the 'occupier of' the Bhop who Was having a bath'at'lhe time'; eVi* dently jumped froiA an Upstair window at the back, after being fearfully burned. She was taken to' the hospital, urid'r'expired from the result' of the burn'-and shock at 3.15 a.m. to-day. ' A liny, three years old, son of Mr Zouch, was asleep' upstairs and was burned to death,/'his charred remains being discovered after the fire was subdued.' : : '""'. '." "''' '"'"

G. Hefford and Co.'s drapery establishment at the corner of East street was next attacked and was completely demolished, nothing being saved. ■ Mr Jas. MellorV boot .-shop on the other side of Zouch's and the adjoining painters' shop of- A. and 'R. Terris were both badly damaged, ; the stock being destroyed as muchiby water as fire. . :' - • .",,,:

The efforts, of the/brigade, ■ and iti» brick party, wall stayed ; the progress of the fire in East street, and, Robinson's (fruiterer), Burgess' -.'..- and Young's (bootmaker) 1 premises -were damaged only by water. Hefford ;and Co. will be heavy losers oyer" and above the insurance, having just got iin £BOO worth of "spring goods. '' - ; ' -' i! ' •' All the premises' were owned by;. "Mrs .Col&han in the estate of'the late Captain George Colemahi ; and -•were ''insured; for £3075 in the Phoenix '""office;',, Hefford' and Co'sv" stock : wa« insured: for £27o()''the Phoenix ; office having 7 ;£looo, the"Koyal i66oorthe.' North ' Britisti" ithe Sun -.office''£6oo: Mr Terris had a, "policy of £7CO in the Liverpool,- L'bndoii and Globe office,, and Mj.Young "a; policy-.of £4OO iri the' North--British and the. Alliance, while Mr Zouch's -'stock', of; furniture and dental instruments were insured, in one policy in. ; the 'Yorkshire bffice : .for £450. Mr Mellqr wSs"also ' insured but details "are riot available." ."•"..'.■ , '

' There: is no clue toythe origin." of the fire though it. is generally sumised, from its sudden and 'otherwise ■ unexplainable outbreak that it was due to an escape of g as -' ."'"•• : "'. ''■_ "'\.\ ■[ y..':;" ; V" v.-.. iMre Zo'uch'was the wife; of W. Hv Zouch, Inspector for the.-Society for the Prevention of Cruelty - t to - Animals in Christchurch. .- •■■.■■ ~ : i./ '

■ It is understood; that' the premises .will be rebuilt at bnce> -'Mr Hfeffoid having * a six years lease, to run:, « i'- ' - ,'- : y.\i • The loss of life created great '> consternation' here, Mr A: L;>-Zouch-received numerous telegrams : of, sympathy.':- The deceased lady had? complained';:of;;' indisposition prior to;the l fire' - and her';sbn had at 9.45 requested a doctor, to. we her at 10.45; The fire was discoveredat' IO.'B. It is presumed that she would* have lhtd time to" escapey unharmed if -she had inbfc attempted to rescue the child. ;: - ? ' : •" MASONIC HALL BURNED. WESTPORT, August. 28. 1 The Masonic HaU-'was gutted* by fire at 2.33 this morning'i The fire had -too great'-a hold for the brigade to overcome it before ■ the building was practically 'destroyed. In''the building was-'a' valuable organ and all">th&' Masonic' regalia, tlis value* of ■>■ which runs' intoy £KXX . The Royal Arch Chapter incfc 'last?''night- ,and it was 10 o'clock' when- the last of the members left-the building.' There jwas ho sign of fire then. Insurances I 'on the bufld-! ing total £400; and bri'tke furniture £IOO.

'.'•'. ' • ■"" • AUCKLAND, August 23. • The Mount-Albertf Railway Station ti'aS totally destroyed 1 , by. ;fire last' night. The loss is estimatca a6'''£2oo'. t '' ,: ! '