DOMINION NEWS.

Western Star, 31 July 1914, Page 3

DOMINION NEWS.

FIRE AT THE BLUFF. Ona of the biggest fires that has ever occurred at Bluff for over a decade commenced in the Club Hotel Buildings at midnight on Tuesday. The outbreak had a firm hold before it was discovered, and by the time the brigade could be summoned the flames had complete mastery. Every effort was turned to saving the Post Office building at the western end of Messrs Huddart, Parker and Co. s building on the oast. Difficulty was experienced in rescuing some of the inmates, two of whom sustained slight injury. The fire appears to have commenced in the vicinity of the right-of-way between Ferguson and Hotton’s tobacconist shop and W. Haigh’s newsagent shop. It is doubtful whether the lire originated in the billiard saloon at the back of the tobacconist shop or in the Club Hotel second storey. The flames spread rapidly, demolishing the whole of the Club Hotel buildings and also the Huddart, Parker offices. The heavy partition at the eastern end saved *tbte Bank of New Zealand and the Harbour Board’s offices. AU the shops lost evcrvthing, the only salvage being from the Club Hotel. At two oclock the outbreak had been mastered, and there was no chance of it spreading further. The following are the approximate insurances : —Club Hotel, furniture and stock, £ISOO on the Commercial Union; building, £BOOO in the Royal Exchange: D. C. Hamilton, chemist, £4OO in the United; G. V. Edge, £225, Nor wich Union’; Fergusson and Hotton, £IOO in the Slate and £IOO in National; P. C. M. Anderson, fancy goods, £4OO, Commercial Union; Huddart Parker Office, £IOO, Atlas Office; Bank of New Zealand (smoked), £4OO in Standard, and 250 in Commercial Union. Included in the stock of Ferguson and Hotton was £SO worth of jewellery and watches, displayed for sale by Mr A. K. Gc-ddes, of Orepuki. Mr Geddes has been in the habit of visiting Bluff periodically on business visits, and he usually leaves an assortment of jewellery on view in the window in question. It was uninsured, and the ex-Otago cricketer will be much sympathised with in his loss. It was only after daybreak that the awful intelligence was bruited abroad that the conflagration of the previous night had claimed a toll of human lives. Search was made everywhere, but so many conflicting stories ran the rounds that everyone had seemed accounted for. However, one of the first indications of anything amiss came from the railwaymen. T. T. Brook was due on duty at 6 a.m., but did not put in an appearance. Had .anyone seen him? Brooks was a fireman who only arrived from Lumsden to take up Bluff duties last week. Deceased was a- member of the territorial force, and last Wednesday attended a parade of the Bluff territorials. Wednesday night’s parade of his company was dismissed as a mark of respect to the memory of Private Brook. In the morning it was found that Peter Monsen. an American Swede, was missing. The police discovered that Monaco occupied room 15 on Tuesday night, and a search was made amongst the debris below room 15,. At 3.30 charred remains were found in the tangled of the bedstead lie had occupied, proving conclusively that he had been suffocated in his sleep and had not stirred from his bed.

Fred Butcher, a well-known old character of both Invercargill and Bluff, was the third victim. He was an ex-man-o’-war’s man, aged over 60 year’s. It was not until noon that it became certain that Butcher was a victim of the fire.