A Maoriland Hero.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue XV, 11 April 1903, Page 1037

A Maoriland Hero.

DIES SAVING LIVES IN A FIR!

There comes from Chicago, United States of America, a. story of noble selfsacrifice in which a New Zealander, and former Auckland resident, figures prominently.

Tile hero of the story is Albert Parr, whose parents live in Auckland. He went to America about seven years ago, and worked himself up to the position of foreman in a big paint manufactory in Chicago. This building caught fire on February 21 last, and in the burning building were 50 girls. These were in an upper story, and they became horribly frightened; with tip result that they blocked the way in a huddled paralysed heap. To save them Albert J. Parr went into the smoke and flames, and he .succeeded in rescuing 15 of the fearsmitten girls from their terrible plight. But tiiis was not enough for the indomitable Parr. The building was enwrapped with flames, which were being fed by the large store of oils and paints, and Ihe hero thought that there were more girls in the place. When the roll had been called several girls were missing, and it could not be found out whether they had gone home or been seen. So Parr determined to go into the fire, which was eating up all the woodwork of the building. He asked a friend named John Wooley to accompany him. Wooley at first demurred, for the sight of the dreadful flames was enough to terrify anyone. At last Wooley consented, and the daring pair disappeared into the smoke. There was a dismal wait, a few minutes of tense anxiety, which was not relieved when Wooley staggered out of the building, white-faced and reeking with smoke. He was alone. He told

his story in gasps. Parr and ho had gone far into the burning factory, but found no one. Then the heat began to overcome Wooley, and he cried a halt. Parr would not stop, would not come back, but went on into a passage wit leading to one of the girls’ rooms. That was the last that Wooley saw of him, for the smoke, enclosed him. The heat was awful, and Wooley could stay no longer. He returned and got out with the greatest difficulty. Farr never returned, and his charred body was found next morning at the foot of the ruined stairway.

The American papers tell a graphic tale of Parr’s heroism, and are unstinted in their praise of his act. He was the eldest son of Mr Robert J. Parr, of this city, and the young man, when he was here, was a great favourite among those who knew him intimately.