HOUSE ONEFIRE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2361, 30 November 1908, Page 4

HOUSE ONEFIRE.

A DWELLING DESTROYED. About _ 2.30 o’clock yesterday morning the firebell rang out an alarm o-f fire on the Whataupoko side, and it was quicklv discovered that the scene of the outbreak was- a four-roomed cotta ire in Stafford Street, owned and occupied by Mr. John Burgess, a baker by trade, and employed by Mr. James Erskine. , Mr Burgess and Ins wife aitojWmlJ,retired to bed at 'about 11.30 p.m. on Saturday, leaving a small fire burning hi the kitchen grate. Shortly before 230 a.m. yesterday he was aroused bv the screaming of one of his children and found the house to he on fire. Air’ Burgess at once removed his wife and children to a place of safety, and having done so, attempts were made to save the furniture. All eliorts were unavailing, however, and practical'v nothing escaped the flames, which completely enveloped the house with such rapidity that inside twenty minutes nothing was left standings When the fire brigade, under J. AlcLaclilan, reached the scene, the house had been completely gutted, and their services were only requisitioned to play on-the embers. The house was built in two parts, and while the front portion was comparatively new, the rear portion vas almost 20 years old, of white pine, and highly inflammable. _ The building was insured for £l5O with the Building Society and the furniture and contents for £IOO.