FIRE.

Western Star, 8 November 1900, Page 3

FIRE.

WALLACE COUNTY HOTEL DESTROYED. At 5.30 a.m on Wednesday a tii’e broke out in tbe Wallace County Hotel, a largo two story wooden structure of 20 room-5 situated in Paddock street, Riverton, owned by Mr Matthew Instbne aud occupied by Mr Thomas Atkinson, who carried on the hotel. The origin of the fire is a mystery, and au hour after the discovery, the building, together with its contents, with the exception of a piano and a few articles in the washhouse, reduced to ashes. The fire broke out in a room npstairs on the western side, whore a yon ng man named George Cooke, a blacksmith, was sleeping. He was awakened by dense volumes of smoko which filled the room and

• passage, and he very quickly made his exit by the side window, jumping into an adjoining garden, receiving nasty cuts to his feet in doing so. He then aroused the other inmates, who just had time lo escape with a light covering. By this time the flames had got a complete hold of the interior of the building, aud shortly afterwards they j burst throngh the roof, shooting up fiercely into the air. Mr James £ ratt was coining over from Sonth Riverton and noticing the smoke, gave the alarm to residents in the vicinity who were quickly on the spot. All hope of combating the flames having been abandoned, there being no lire engine or any fire extinguishing appliances of any sort beyond buckets, attention was directed to an adjoining house owned and occupied by Mr John Miller, which was several times in imminent danger. But the crowd, who had now been largely increased, worked like Irojans, and as fast as the building caught the fire was extinguished, and ultimately their efforts wore crowned with success, the building, however, receiving a thorough scorching. Had the breeze been stiff and blowing due east, nothing could have saved it, but fortunately the direction of the wind was south east, and this took the body of the flames past tbe south angle of -4ibe house. The whole of Mr Millar’s furniture was taken out into the street with marvellous rapidity, but it suf. fered severely in the enforced removal, and presented a very chaotic appoarance as it lay strewn about the road. Mr Millar is insured in the National. The fruit trees to the west of the building destroyed, in Mr Robinson’s garden, were slightly scorched bnt beyond this no other damage was done. The stables in the shape of a right angle, running from the back of the hotel, escaped, Tbe loss to Mr Atkinson is a heavy one, as all his personal efiects were destroyed, and these were uninsured. The furniture and effects belonging to the hotel were insured intho Commercial Union office for £275, and the building in the South British for £3OO aud in the Alliance for £IOO.