NARROW ESCAPE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20359, 17 July 1934, Page 8

NARROW ESCAPE.

Early Morning Fire at Papanui. Three occupants of a house at 88, inters Road, Papanui, had a narrow escape early this morning when fire broke out in a back room while they were sleeping. Mr J. R. Berryman, whose bedroom was at the back of the house, woke to find his room filled with smoke. He battled his way through dense smoke to the front of tne house to his mother, 70 years of e - but found that his aunt, Mrs M A. Bottomley, had also been wakened and was doing her best to get Mrs Berryman to safety. Together, the two helped Mrs Berryman out of the house Then Mrs Berryman gave way to the strain and collapsed. She has been attended by a doctor and is still ill. The house, a seven-roomed wooden building, with its contents, was completely destroyed. It is thought that l the fire originated through a defective . chimney. ' . The house, the property of Mrs J. M. Berryman, was insured with the Mercantile and General Office for £SOO. and the contents, the property of Mr R. J. Berryman, were insured with the same company for £220. —--—"