A Close Call

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 73, 29 April 1929, Page 8

A Close Call

Per Press Association.

BABY'S CRIES GIVE ALARN! 12 People Have Narrow Escape house totally destroyed

AUCKLAND, liis day. Awakened by tlie crying of a nin^-weeks-old baby, twelve persous experieuced a remarkable escape from a blazing boarding liouse in AVellesley street west at four o'clock ou Sunday morning. The house ivas a two- storeyed building of seven rooms, -and was occupicd by Air and Alrs W . Agnew and thre« young children, Air and Alrs J. E .W aisii, their baby and four men boaruers, ali of whom slept upstairs, except Air Agnew. Mr Walesh was awakened by the child screaming and found the upstairs passagewav full of smoke and the roai* of the flames could be distinctly heard. Although almost overcome by smoke Mr Walsh roused his wife and gave the alarm to the others. who were alL sleeping -sound ly. The lower part of the house was now burning fiercely, and the flames were undermining the gtainvay. Alrs Agnew struggled downstairs with her children and. helped by her husband. reached safelv without mjury. .

Two men boarders ciimbed tbrougn an upstairs window to an alleywav separating the burning house froin the next building. One man jumped IS feet to tho ground and another jumped across tho alleyway to the roof opposite,- tlienco reaching the ground safely. Two other men ciimbed through & bedroom window to the roof of tho front verandali and jumped on to the grass, 15 feet below. Mr Agnew was unable to find tho man who jumped to tlie next door roof and attempted to re-enter the house to search. He was driveu hack by the flames. AVlien the brigade arrived all the occupants were gatliered on the roadway in their niglit attire, nothing bemg saved but Alrs Agnew' s purse and achild's perambulator. All were given shelter by the neighbours. There was no hope of saving the house, but the brigade prevented damage to the next house, except for some charring of the woodwork. Tlie contonts were insured for £200.