The Octagon fire

Cafe Chantant in Dunedin’s famous Octagon was a rough and ready place.
It had a bad reputation and was well known to local police.
In the Ross’s Building, the cafe was one of three shops - one untenanted and the other a milliner’s - along with numerous rooms rented to various people.
One of them was editor of the Otago Witness, Robert Wilson. The milliner was his wife Sarah Ann’s shop. He and his whole family were in the building the night it caught fire.
In the early morning of September 8, 1879, a neighbour noticed the fire and raised the alarm. As many as 50 people were thought to be sleeping in the rooms behind the cafe.
The fire started in a second floor sitting room and spread quickly. It destroyed the only stairwell in minutes. The shoddily built structure with narrow hallways hampered efforts to get out or anyone to get in to help.
People did try desperately to get out. At least one man, finding himself cut off, jumped about 30 feet to the ground. He was rushed to medical attention but died a short time later.
Of Robert Wilson’s family, he, his wife and the children Frederick, Lawrence, Robert Jnr and Sarah all died. Two little girls - Lillie and Louisa survived.
Also killed were John Swan, Margaret McCartney, John Taylor and George Augustus Martin.
Two other bodies were recovered - but remain unidentified to this day.
The fire brigade took far too long to respond and they were heavily criticised at an inquest held soon after. But the inquest jury found the fire was a wilful act by William John Waters but that they did not believe he intended to kill anyone.
Nevertheless the coroner sent Williams to trial.
Williams - also known by the names Walter Clair and William Woodcock or more likely Woodlock - had moved to Dunedin with his brother’s wife and child.
He was charged with arson and with the murder Robert Wilson.
At trial at least one witness said they had heard Williams say how easy it would be to set a fire.
He had over £5000 in insurance, but despite this it took the trial only 38 minutes to find him not guilty.
Much later he received some of the insurance money.
Waters died on October 14, 1911 and is buried in the Port Chalmers Cemetery with his wife Maggie.
Photo by Ricardo Gomez Angel.