THE LATE FIRE

West Coast Times, Issue 10667, 22 December 1897, Page 3

THE LA TE FIRE

CORONERS ENQUIRY.

An inquiry into the late fire was held in the Magistrate's Courfi house yed : terday morning before Mr D. Macfarlane, Coroner, and a jury "consisting of Messrs Patrick Dee, J. Keller, W. A. Stapfoton, T. M. Ingram, A. Little, and B. Bremond, Mr A. Little was chosen foreman. The jury and coroner went to view the scene of the fire and .'on returning Mr Beare, representing the South Biitish Insurance Company conducted the enquiry. The following evidence was called Ellen Cody deposed. lam employed by Mrs Hall as a general servant. Altogether I have been with her for 15 years and at the last time for two years. The plan produced is a fairly accurate 6ne. We slept in the room upstairs at tho back nearest Schroder's. I think it was

numbered 3. I was' sleeping in the samo _.room asMrs'llall. On. Friday I* was" chiefly occupied in cleaning the house. In the evening no one came into the lar. Miss Preston came into the back parlor for a time at half-past nine. She had been sleeping there all the week but she came to give us word that she cuuld not come that night as her brother had to get up early. She had stayed there as a friend. She has stayed there on other occasions. Miss Preston slept in the front room upstairs next to Schroder's. No one else stayed there that week. Mrs Hall employs no other servant. She left at about ten. Mrs Hall went out with her. I think 'she went to the 'W/est Coast Times Office. I closed the bar door a minute or two before * ten. I turned down the*gas at the bar and regulated the meter for the" front' "light. This was the usual rule. Mrs Hall " was in the parlor at the time. There was no light at this time excepting at the bar and parlor. No one had been in the bil-

Hard room that night. As soon as the , ■~ gas was turned off Mrs Hall lit the candle, getting it from the stairs, and we went to bed. We had slept in that room for at least a month before the fire. It was about half -past ten when we went to bed. I woke up suddenly thAsame night— l cannot say what i time— and thought I smelt fire. I don't think Mrs Hall could have got out without my hearing. The door was locked. I cannot say if Mrs Hall was awake when I woke. I saw a flare of flame through the ■window against Schroder's wall. I smelt smoke. There was no other reason to cause me to suppose it, was i a fire. I uulocked the door and went on the landing and found the air thick with smoke but I saw no flame. Mrs Hall lit the candle before I opened the door. Mrs Hall went to the wardrobe to take a few things and said "save your clothes." She went downstairs before me. 1 took the candle and followed her downstairs. I did not take anything. Mrs Hall took a little tin box containingjmy brooches and things. I cannot say if Mrs Hall had a little place of safe keeping for her valuables. I know of nothing of special value that Mrs Hall had there. Going downstairs Mrs Hall let the box and some o£ the clothes fall. I picked up the box. I looked down the passage going into bill'ard room'and saw through the inner window a light as of a fire . I then opened the passage door aud the front door. We "both ran ioto the street. I did this because I was frightened. I called out "fire" aud knocked up Schroder's. Mrs Hall threw the clothes intoDr Mackenzie's aud called out " fire " as well . Neither of us had more than our nightdresses on." W,hilst T was knocking at Schroder's Mrs Hall went round Kirwan's right-of-way to get at the back or her place. When I went round I found Mrs Hall had pulled out a few things from, the back, one or two boxes, a clothes basket, and sonic other things. We could not very woll get to the front part because the smuke was blinding, almost suffocating. J made no effort to get the cash from the bar. The four boxes we took out were in the lumber room. I carried and dragged them to a shed at the back. Mrs Hall was saviug a few pillows and things from the back bedrooms. At this time the dining room was a mass of flames. (At this stage Mr Beare asked that the further examination of this witness could be deferred till he examined Mrs Hall ) Maria J. Hall, hotelkeeper, deposed that she was about her hotel, the Golden

Ag9, on Friday evening. I think Sir Chamberlain came in that evening for a drink. I served him with a whisky. He was the only customer who came in that evening. Miss Preston came in at halfpast nine. She cr.me to see us as a friend. She had been sleeping at my place for some days. Miss Cody locked up the front at ten. I went into the kitchen with the raisins Miss Cody had been stoning. I put them in the kitchen and went straight back. I had the lighted candle in my hand. We then went upstairs. Miss Cody carried the clock and I followed with the candle. We slept in the back bedroom next to Schroder's. We went to bed at once and were soon asleep. I awoke hearing Miss Cody say — M Oh !my God, where is the fire ?" 1 got up at once and lit the candle. I could smell the smoke and said — "save our clothes." I put my band into the wardrobe, pulled down all the clothes I could get hold of, also a t n box, and ran downstairs. Miss Cody opened the door, which was locked. 1 saw nothing but smoke, which was almost suffocating. I went across to Dr Mac kenzie's and seeing a door open, threw the flings in. I dropped the tin box which MissCody picked up. I cannot say what Miss Cody did with the candle. We did not look where the fire wag when we came down. Our only thought was to get sifely out. After going to M'Kenzie's, I aroused Dowells, then went tc Schroder's and afterwards ran round to the back by way of Kirwan'a right-of-way. I could not get through the front way because of the smoke. • I cannot say why I did not attempt to save the things in front first. I was the very first to get to the back. I forced the kitchen door open. I then went into the dining room. Th*re wa« fire falling from the ceiling. There was m room above the billiard room or dining roo:n. I cannot account for the fire being where it was. I might say when I lit the candle upstairs 1 fancied I saw a glimmer of a light under the bed. I cannot say if ib was a flame. I did not mention it to Miss Cudy at the time. When I *aw the flame dropping from the ceiiino into the clothes basket in the dining room I ran up and removed the clothes basket. This was at the end next the billiard room. I then went into the store room to get what I could. I cannot say why I should have specially gone into that room. It was one of the handiest rooms I Trent to get Miss Cody's boxes a3 well as my own. There were three boxes of Miss Cody's and one of my own. My clothes and jewellery were in that box as well as title deeds and other valuables I possessed. I took out my bos last. I knew what was in Miss Cody's boxes; there was clothing and things. I knew of nothing of special value. I have taken nothing out of my tin box since I saved it. I cannot say what the value was. In my own room upstairs there was a watch and chain* I kept this tin box in the lumber room because I had no room for it elsewhere. It has been there for years..

To the Coroner : When I got up I noticed a smell of smoke in the room but not much till the door was opened. At 1.35 the Court adjourned to 2.30.

The enquiry resumed at 2.35. The examination of Mrs Hall was resumed.

The door of the lumber room was closed and locked. It was locked that night. It was usually locked. The key was in the door. It was not kept locktd in the day time. The door would be closed bub not locked. I unlocked it to g)t in on the Friday morning. We generally locked it at .night. I did not lock it on th» Friday night. "We were in the habit of going to this room several times in the day. It took me four journeys to get the four boxes out. I dragged them to the door. Miss Cody was there. She dragged them a little further on. The last thirig 1 took out of the store room was a tin dish. By this time the fire had spread across the dining room ceiling to the store room ceiling. lam positive I put the candle out when I went to bed. I Baw the flame at the back of the bed beside the wall. If I had put something over that small flame I might have extinguished the fire. I had not the presence of mind at the time. I did not close the passage door when I first went into the street. I followed Miss Cody. I took a small paper box with the cash when I took the clothes from upstairs. I put it with the clothes in Dr M'Kenzie's. A part of a case of whisky was saved from the storeroom. There were three- bed- j rooms up-stairs and five dow/i-stairs. Seven were furnished. I value the furniture at £200. I bought the billiard table 20 year 3 ago when I took the house. I gave £95 for it. I was insured for £250 on the building in the Palatine ; £200 on stock, furniture and piano in the South British, and £100 on the billiard table iD the Commercial Union. I think my stock was worth between £20 and £30. I put a new cloth on the billiard table since I bought it. It has been insured for £100 all the time. I have had the same insurances for many years though I have at times changed the offices. The place opposite, where I am now living, b ;longs to me. We were biking there on Thursday. I got a woman to wash it out one day last week. I have had it washed out many times. I had some potatoes stored there and some old furniture. I did not remove any furniture from the hotel there I took a meat safe from that place to the hotel. There was no furniture in the out house at the back of the hotel prior to the fire. Miss Cody asked one of her nephews to remove the boxes to where I am now. I paid Miss Cody 12a a week. SLe was paid whenever ii was convenient to me. I coulu not say what were my average takings for the last «ix months. I bad oniy to account to myself and did not take a note of it. I have other sources of income. The shop up the street brings £3 a month for ten {Bontba. I think my outside income

would be not more than £45 a year. Servants wages and insurances would come to about £50 a year; license maney, £40; rates would be more than £8.

(The Coroner wanted to know what this had io do with the origin of the fire )

Examination continued — The gasfitter was in the house on the Friday He fixed the gas jets over the billiard table. This was about 20r3 in the afternoon. I have no idea how the fire originated. I heard no report or explosion at night.

To the Coroner : There is a fire place in the bar parlor. No fire had been there for some days. The fire in the bil • Hard room had not been lit for months The kitchen was the only loom in which there had been a fire. This was at 6 o'clock. It was carefully put out and the kettle placed in front.

To Mr Beare : I paid £180 for the hotel. I have the shop at present occupied by Mr Arthur iusured for £100.

To the Coroner :— I think the box with my papers and valuables was in the storeroom when the fire took place two years ago. The building was then insured with Mr Wade. When the time expired Mr Wade said he had too many insurances in that locality. Mr Stevenson then took the insurance. I had a place opposite the theatre burned at the time of the theatre fire. Then there was the fire between me and che Guardian office two years ago. Blunck had a fire in the shop belonging to me he occupied. A claim for insurance was made in each of these cases. I had a fire at Stafford many years ago; the place was not insuied. A cottage belonging to me in the north end of the town, occupied by a man named O'Grady was burnt. I did not get all the insurance.

Miss Cody was recalled and said she wished to add to her former evidence — Another lady had called prior to Mias Preston. In answer to Mr Beare she said she did not see the small flame in the bed room r eferred to by Mrs Hall. She did not bear of it till next day. When she wont round to the back after giving an alarm the whole of the billiard room seemed to be in flaoies. She went into the dining room but was frightened and ran out again. Theie were no fires in the firepla3es that day excepting the kitchen and that was black out.

Henry Debenham deposed : I am looking after a patient for Dr M'Kenzie. At about 1.20 I was disturbed by some screaming in the street. When I went out I saw alot of smoke coming through the roof of the Golden Ag*. I immediately went back, called the doctor and then ran down to ring the bell. As soon as I got there some one started to ring. When I got back I saw a bundle of clothes in the door way, which had been thrown there when I was away. I saw nobody in the street. I picked up the clothes and with them a cigar lox which rattled. It had some silver in it.

Dr M. Mackenzie deposed : After being awakened by Mr Debenhara I wei.t to the frontdoor. I ?aw a volume of smoke which at first I thought wa^ at Schroder's but which I found was at Mrs Halls. I sont Mr Debenham to ring the fire bell. Rushed into the house aroused my family. Went acra&3 to Mrs Hall's and banged at the doors. I am certain the Golden Age doors were closed. I was present when the door was smashed in some time afterwards. Mr C. Mandl broke the window and Mr Cairns smashed the door open. Some time afterwards Mrs Hull came to see if some of her clothes were there and she got some. This was the first I saw of Mrs Hall. From the position of the fire when I saw it first I should say it was in the bedroom where Mrs Hall sleep 3. I did not try the passage door to see if it wps fastened. lam sure it was closed.

M. C. Cairns, commercial travellerdeposed: I was staying at Churches Empire hotel on Friday last. I was aroused by the fire alarm and went up the street. The fire was in the Golden Age hotel. I saw no doors open. I tried the centre door, which was fast, and then forced open the door to the right. I saw no flame coming from the building, I saw there was a fire inside I rushed to a door directly opposite me forced it open and saw a bed in au inner room. I sang out but got no reply. I could not get in because of the flames I then went into the bar and found the fire there, the bottles and things breaking, I found nothing could be done so went into the street. I was in my bedroom when the fire bell rang. I could not say if the engine was there at this time. I did not notice any sign or smell of gas explosion; nothing to cause me to suppose the fire had originated by that means.

H. L. Michel, merchaut, deposed : lam captain of the Fokitika Fire Brigade. I remember Saturday morning last. I was telephoned for at about twenty minutes past one. When I arrived at the scene the Golden Age hotel was a mass of flames. One engine had commenced I working just before I got to the fire. The second engine arrived from the North Revell street station within five minutO3. We at once tried to cut the fire out. I got into the Guardian office but we were beaten out. The manual engines were working well but I was disappointed to find very little water coming from the other end. I may say that the Brigade officers always discuss how certain blocks shall be attacked in case of fire and the arrangement for this locality was that the manuals should be placed in Weld street and the steamer at the Town Hail. When I found very little water was coming from the steamer I asked Mr BraddonJ the iieuteuant, to ascertain what waa the matter and not to leave till the water came down. He went and ultimately found a stone about the size of a hen's egg under one of the flappers in the valve. By this time the fire had got the best of us. I have no doubt that the stone was put into the pump — whether wantonly orraaliciously canuoS We

have now adopted means of preventing such a thing happening again. Some 12 mouths cr so ago stones had got in but this might have been caused through the pump sucking up gravel. To prevent this a grating had been placed at the stand pipe which effectually prevented stones much larger than peas going through. There can be no doubt whatever that this stone was placed in the pump by hand. But for this I should say it is absolutely certain the fire would have been cut out at the Guardian and Schroder's, even if not at Mrs Hall's. Such was our experience at the former fire I aai confident that but for the stone some £7000 or £8000 worth of property would have been saved.

To the Coroner : The decreased powei of the engine, even after the stone was discovered, may be attributed to several causes. It is possible that small stones had got in and interfered with the working ; then the hose is getting out of order and the leakage for such a considerable distance materially affects the pressure. It is possible, also, that the engine driver had not completely calculated upon the requirements of such a length of hose and did not work the engine to its full strength.

W. C. Braddou deposed : That on arrival at the fire I found the steamer was drawing but little water. I ascertained a stone waa in the delivery valve of the pump (stone produced). Immediately the stone was removed the water commenced to flow. In my opinion the stone has been placed in the stand pipe opposite Evans' Red Lion hotel and was sucked into the pump at the last practice, about a month ago. It might be there and not discovered unless, as happened when 1 discovered, it got under the flapper. ] either think it was placed in the stand pipe or else in the pump. The same thing thing might happen at any fire. The only remedy is to put a strainer on the suction pipe of the pump. Several times the caps of the stand pipe have been found loose and it has caused comment among members of the Brigade as they are screwed down by two men with spanners. I think the stone had been placed in the stand pipe because of its rusty appearance.

Alfred Andrewes deposed : I sometimes assist my father as nightwatchman. Coming down Weld street towards Heppel's corner I saw emoke which I took to be coming from Sargison's bakehouse. At I went along the smoke increased. 1 ran to the tower but was not sure it was a fire so went to the top of the tower. I then sa (? the smoke was coming from th» Golden Age and went down and rang the bell. T&e gas bell had noo rung at this time. I went on duty that night at 11 o'clock, passing down lievell street past the Golden A«e. I left the tower at about 1 in the morning, going up Revell street past the Golden Age as far as Fowlers. At that time there was no sign of fire. I returned down the street as far as Keller's and went to the Times office to give a young fellow a book. It wa3 when returning from the Times office that I first saw the smoke.

William Shannon, deposed, he was employed by Mr Amberger. On Friday last Mrs Hall went to the shop and said one of the billiard room gas lights was loose. Hs went there and found it only wanted screwing.up, which he did. He tried the four jets aud found they were not leaking, taw Mrs Hall turn off the lights from a tap against the wall. Could not smell any escape of gas. Tried the pipe in several places but could not detect any escape.

At this stage, after consultation with the Coroner, an adjournment till January 7 at 11 a.m. was decided upon.