FIRE IN WICKSTEED PLACE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 12120, 6 December 1894, Page 2

FIRE IN WICKSTEED PLACE.

LARGE TWO-STORIED BUJLDING DESTROYED. FIREMAN C. PERRETT SEEIOUSLY INJURED. At about 20 minutes to \> o'clock last 'evening an alarm of fire was raissd, tbe econo of tbe outbroak being a two-storied building in Wickstoed Place. Mr W. S. Dustio, whose premises are near at hand, was tlio Brat to notico the fire, which appoavod to hava started in Hie centre of the up. stairs portion. Tho building, which is owned by Mrs Henry Nathan, is a very old structure, and consequently the flames rapidly obtained a strong bold. Indeed, by tho time the Brigade had arrived, notwithstanding that tlmy wore on tho spot with tho utmost promptitude, tbo fire appeared to tho ordinary onlooker to be beyond control, However, Captain Feiry and hia men tackled their wont with a will, and, aft6r a hard fisrhr, succeeded in preventing the shell from fulling, although tho place was completely gutted. Whilst workiug with somo of his comrades on tho verandah, Fireman C. Perrott mot with a very nasty accident. The portion of corrugated iron on which he was standing, having been loosened hy tho intense boat, suddenly collapsed, and precipitated him on to the concrete footpath. Ho was quickly picked up, and carried into a room iv his father's business premises, immediately opposite the gutted building. Dr Saunders was fortunatoly in tho vicinity, and promptly sitlondod tlio aiEfeier, bfeing joined shortly afterwards by Dr Tripe. So far as could be ascertained last night, no bones woro broken, the principal external wound being a bad gash on the right temple, but.naturally, tho shock to the system must havo bsen great. Shortly after this accident the lower end portion of the iron, on which Fireman Sims was working, gave way, and, had he not had tho presonce of mind to drop his branch and clutch the framework, he, too, would have been injured. A word of pruise must be given the police, under Sergeants Cullen and Villars, for their efforts iv keeping tho crowd from hampering tho firemen, while those willing workers who helped to save a portion of tho stock and furniture are also deseiving of mention. The place was leased by Mr M. Hogan, who, with his family, occupied the main portion of the dwelling, a family named Riley living at the back, The 1 shop was sub-lsased by Mr Ben. Price, saddler whose stock was insured for IlaO in tho ; New Zealand Office, but tli9 insurance on the building and furniture was not ascertained laßt night. No clus can be given ' jas to tho origin of tho outbroak, as there : I was no ono on tho promises at the time.