FIRE IN PEEL STREET.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2733, 11 February 1910, Page 3

FIRE IN PEEL STREET.

NAB ROW ESCAPE OF A HOUSE. At 4.20 p.m. yesterday the main bellrv rang out an alarm of fire, and the brigade, who bad been telephoned for, proceeded to the scene of the outbreak in Peel Street. A good stream of water soon put- cut the blaze, which was confined to a cupboard full of clothes, in a passage way, and to a corner of a front bedroom.

The house, containing seven rooms, is situated between Childers Road and Kalmtia Street, and is owned by Airs. AY. I). Lysnar. It is very old, and is occupied by Airs. Smith, who conducts it as a boarding-house, there being three boarders staying there at prerent.

Airs. Smith could not account in any way for the outbreak, but thought it might have been caused by rats, the house lx-ing overrun bv them. She stated that- about three o’clock she locked up the place, and proceeded down to the beach for a bathe. She was just going into the water when her little hoy, who had returned from school, came running down to say that the house was on fire. Hurrying bade she found tli r , place full of smoke but the fire, winch had started in a large cupboard fui 1 of clothes and portmanteaux, had been extinguished by men from the creamery at th 0 . back of the residence. Everything was thought safe, but half an hour later flames suddenly enveloped the cupboard, and quicklv burned their way into a front bedroom, which was occupied by Airs. Smith. .The brigade were summoned, and til oy effectually put the outbreak down. The wall , in the bedroom was badly scorched, as was the roof. Bedclothing and other contents of the- room were damaged by fire and water, but no great loss was suffered. The cupboard where the fire started was badly burned, and the contents were nearly all destroyed. The losers wer f boarders who had been staying in the house, and had gene out to the country to employment, leaving portmanteaux and swags for safe keeping.

There was £175 insurance on the furniture and contents in the Guardian olßee, and the house was also insured.