RECENT FIRE IN MASTERTON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LVI, Issue 8627, 8 December 1906, Page 6

RECENT FIRE IN MASTERTON.

Inquest on John Cuff.

The inquest on the body of John Cuff, who lost his life in the fire at the Oarlton board-ing-house, in Queen-street, Masterton, in the early hours of Thursday morning, was continued before Mr W. P. James, District

Coroner, yesterday afternoon. Annie Watson, proprietress of the board-ing-house, deposed that there were about twenty-eight boarders in the house on the night of the fire. Witness returned home about 10.50 from the Town Hall, and re-

tired about 11.15. Witness slept downstairs. Usually inspected upstairs before retiring, but did not do so on the night of the fire, though she saw thai everything was safe downstairs. Heard two or three boarders come in after retiring--about a-quarterof an hour after. Two came in together, and one followed later. Was almost sure only one came in last. Judging by the footsteps, the last comer appeared the worse for drink, and went straight upstairs. Believed she heard someone conversing with the latter at the door before he came in. Was not asleep before hearing a great noise at the door. Thought from the noise someone had fallen downstairs. Looked out, of the window and saw a reflection on the wheelwright shop opposite. Opened the front door and saw a man outside, who slept in the house (in room 10) He got out at the front door, which was not locked. Wit-

cess went straight upstairs to the

door of room 10, where the fire appeared, . and opened the door, flames bursting out immediately she did so. The room was like a furnace. No other part of the house was on fire at the time. The boarders were making their escape, and as witness descended the stairs, the fire was making' headway. Was under the impression thai all the inmates bad been aroused, though afraid that someone was in the room where (he fire started, but on account of the fldims could me and do nothing. Told someone that she believed someone was in the room. Deceased was a casual boarder. Saw him last at dinner on Wednesday. Could not say if he had been drinking then. This was the second day of his arrival.

To a juror: No candles were used by boarders to light their way to bed. There was -a good light through the passage-ways from street lamps. Fire-escapes were not necessary in deceased's and the adjoining room as they opened on to the balcony. Thera was a candle for deceased's use in his bedroom. The front rooms were Ihe easiest rooms for escape.

To the Coroner: The man was fully dressed when witness saw him at the door, but could not say if he had his boots on.

James Saunders. labourer, deposed to coming into Masterton on Tuesday morning. Stayed at Mrs Watson's boarding-house, occupying a room facing the main street. There were three beds in the room. Occupied a bed with the head towards the street behind the door. A window between his and a bed opposite opened on to the balcony. Retired to bed at 10 o'clock on the night of the fire. Did not use a candle, as the street lamp gave sufficient light. Did not hear any person coming into the room after retiring. Was awakened by the heat and flames in the room. Saw the fire in the room. It was travelling along the ceiling and top of the window. Could not swear on the point, but the flames appeared about three-quarters of the way down the wall. Dressed downstairs and shouted '• Fire." Did not know if there were any persons in the other beds in the room. Could not see anyone. Heard others cry out " Fire." There were two long curtains at the window. There was a small table near the window, with amp'e room on it for a candle. Could not say if the window v/as open, nor if it was open the night before. By the time witness* got out of bed the nre had a good hold. Snatched his clothes up and left the room. Could not say if he shut the door after him. Was sober at the time—does not drink. Had no idea whatever how the fire originated. Heard the fire-bell immediately he got outside the house.

To a juror : Did not occur to him to look to ace if there were anyone else in the room. There was no one in when he retired. Two men had occupied the other beds the night previous.

Ethel Fisher, housemaid at the Carlton boarding-house, deposed that she knew deceased only as a boarder. He came on Tuesday forenoon, and slept there that night and the following night. Did not know -which bed deceased occupied, but it was in room No. 10. Saw him at 6.45 on the night previous to the fire, when he was sober. A shearer, named Mick Brosnan, engaged a bed at the same time as deceased. He was told to take a bed in the same room as deceased, but he took a bed in No. 1 instead. Brosnan had a few drinks on Wednesday evening. Witness returned to bed at 9.30, sleeping downstairs. Did not hear anyone going up to bed. Heard nothing until the alarm of fire was given. Witness ran outside the front door, and saw Saunders outside. Did not see Mrs Watson about. Could not get back into the house again, as the flames were bursting downstairs. Looked up, and saw No. 1 and No. 10 rooms on fire. Saunders was the only person witness saw about.

Herbert Pettit, labourer, deposed that he was stopping at Carlton boarding-house before the fire. Knew deceased for about nine months. Saw him at 8.30 on Wednesday night near Central Hotel. Went into the Central and had three drinks, deceased taking whisky and water. Left the hotel at 9.30. Went to the boarding-house then, arriving at 10 o'clock, deceased going into the sitting-room. He (deceased) was perfectly sober. Witness returned to town. Did not see deceased alive again. Slept in room No. 5. Deceased could not take much drink. The drinks he had with witness were the first he had had that day. Waa sure the remains at the morgue were those of John Cuff.

Alice Manning, barmaid at the Occidental Hotel, deposed to knowing deceased through coming to the bar occasionally. Deceased was in the hotel about three minutes to 11 o'clock on Wednesday evening. He was in company with Thomas Tracy. They had a drink; deceased taking whisky and water. Deceased then bought two bottles of beer. He

did not seem the worse for drink. Would swear that he appeared to be quite sober. Showed no appearance of drink. Tracy was sober also. Could not say whether deceased himself took the beer away.

Thomas Tracy, laborer, deposed to knowing deceased through seeing him at the boarding-house, where witness had his meals. Witness and deceased left the house together about 9.30 on Wednesday evening. Walked about the street for about an hour. Witness was sober. They then went into the Occidental Hotel, where they had a drink. Deceased paid for the drink and had whisky. Only had the one drink. Was with witness continually from the time they left the boardinghouse. Returned to the house, deceased taking two bottles of beer in his pockets. They arrived there at about 11.30, and stood talking at the side-door. Another man went in with deceased when he went inside. Showed deceased the side. door. It was on his way home round the side door-way. The man who went in with deceased .v\ as a moulder. He was having drinks in the hotel when witness and deceased were there, but had no drinks with them. Deceased appeared quite sober to witness. Did not have to assist deceased to the side door. Deceased did not appear to know of a sido entrance, and said he supposed that at that hour of the night the front door was locked, and asked the way in. Witness had bad one or two drinks previously, but not with deceased.

To a juror : The moulder did not appear to be drunk. Witness thought he was sober. Frederick Ernest Janes, moulder, deposed that he lodged at the Carlton boardinghouse. Saw deceased at the house about three times altogether. Saw him at the Occidental Hotel on Wednesday night. Deceased asked him to have a drink. Deceased had had a few drinks, but was not drunk. Deceased railed for two bottles of beer, insisting on having two. Witness took the bottles and put them iuto his own pocket. Deceased was quite capable, but. witness did not want to risk the bottles getting broken. Went home with deceased and Tracy. They all had had some drinks, but were quite capable of looking after themselves. Arrived at the boarding-house about 11.10 at the latest. Stopped once on the way home, near Oxford House. The front door of the boarding-house was shut. Went into the house at the side door. Tracy stayed outside and said "good-night." Deceased and witness went upstairs. Witness struck a match on the way up as it was dark. Saw deceased into his room. Struck the match at the front door, half-way along the passage putting it out and throwing it on the cocoanut matting on the ground floor. Returned to see if the match was out after seeing deceased up the stairs. The match was out. Witness had the two bottles. Went back to deceased's room where the candle was lit, and went straight to the window. Could not say if the candle was on the table or on a mantelpiece in the room. Witness put the bottles down on the table. Noticed one man in the bed on the right, and one empty bed. Deceased was sitting on his bed. Deceased asked witness to have a drink, but he refused saying he was going to have a bath. Instead he wrote a letter and went to bed. Took him fully half an hour to write the letter. Was awakened by bis room-mate saying there was a fire in the next house. Got up and saw the flames coming from the window two rooms away from witness's. Threw a few clothes out of the window, ran down and got dressed outside. Next day found the neck of one of the bottles brought home the night previous in the debris. The cork had not been drawn.

To the coroner : Deceased had not started to undress when witness passed through the room to put the beer on the table.

Herbert Gardner, fireman, deposed that he was acting-branchman of the Fire Brigade on the occasion of the fire. About three-quarters of. an hour after the Brigade had started to work, the body of deceased was found in the room (No. 10). It was lying on the right side. Witness trod on it accidentally. It was about a yard from the door. Reported the matter to the police, who removed the body.

Constable Townsend deposed to knowing deceased, who came from Ngapara, Oamaru. Saw him on Tuesday and Wednesday last. Did not see him on Wednesday night. Was called to remove the body from the room where deceased was burnt. It was lying about a yard inside the door. Pettit and witness identified him. Deceased had a bundle of twenty one-pound notes and some silver, and also a watch and chain, when found. Did not notice a candle stick in the room. Deceased had been fully dressed from the, appearance of the remnants of clothing left on him. One boot only was on.

The Coroner, in summing up, thought that the evidence pointed to deceased having lit the candle, placed it near the curtain, and a gust of wind caused the curtain to blow on to the candle, setting the room alight.

The jury, after a short retirement, brought in the following verdict:—The deceased met his death by the burning of the Carlton boarding-house, and that there were no means of showing how the fire originated.