WELLINGTON BLAZE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 112, 13 May 1929, Page 8

WELLINGTON BLAZE

RAILWAY HOTEL FIRE OCCUPANTS’ NARROW ESCAPE [ Per -Press Association 1 WELLINGTON, May 11. One of Wellington’s oldest landmarks, the Railway Hotel one Thorudon Quay, owned by Mr James Dealy, was destroyed by a lire which broke out soon after 1.30 p.m. yesterday. The building was an old wooden one and the flames spi ad with great rapidity ami despite the efforts of the fire brigade, which was on the scene a few minutes after the outbreak commenced, it was impossible to save the building. The fire, it has thought, originated in the wash-house. n a flash the flames had penetrated to the front of the building, giving those in the hotel no time to escape with any more than the clothes they were wearing. The cook. Miss Campbell, had to be rescued from her bed, to which she v as confined on account of a recent severe illness. One of Mr Dealy’s sons made his way to her room as soon as the fire was discovered but by the time Le reached her his means of exit had been cut off and it was necessary fo. him to carry Miss Campbell down the fire escape in the front of the building. Two girls employed in the hotel had to be assisted from the rear of the building where they were engaged in their duties. There was no time to remove any valuable from the building. It is understood that there was a considerable, amount of money in the safe and it is known that there were many valuable papers. There were fairly large stocks of beer and spirituous liquors in th’e. hotel building and in he vault below. The Railway Hotel was one of the oldest licensed houses in Wellington and was a well-known landmark. Mr James Dealy has held the license ever since the building was erected and he held 'the freehold of the land and building. I Only a few weeks ago the hotel was painted and renovated generally. In fsurances on the building and stock are inot vet available.