FATAL FIRE IN AUCKLAND.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1350, 24 September 1886, Page 3

FATAL FIRE IN AUCKLAND.

Auckland, September 24

Sh< rtly after II last night a fire broke out in a four roomed cottage in Wynyard street, which was burned to tho ground and one of tho inmates, nn of Mr 0. B. Madden, Solicitor was burned to death. Mr Charles Wright walking in Wynyard street waa on his road home, when he noticed a glam in the front window in Mr Madden’s house, and feeling apprehensive that something was wrong, ran to the door and knocked, Mrs Madden came to the door, partly dressed, opened it and then c'osed It in his face in her excitement. He saw flames inside and at once kicked In the door, carrying out two children, five or six years old who were in their night dresses and took them_ to Mrs Campbell’s, next door. On coming back he saw Mrs Madden coming round the back of the house with a child In her arms. She waa in a perfect frenzy fancying thieo other chi'dren were in the house. On learning that ona wis still missing she attempted to po tack into tho flames with the child in her arms, but iMr Wright prevented her. He was u able to penetrate to the room where the missing chi'd had been s’eeping, as the whole house was then in flimes. Mrs Madden was in a fis e of hysteria and it was found necessary to remove her to the hospital in a cab. As boot as possible the firemen penetrated ir t > the room indicated as that In which He missing boy slept, and found the body of William Samuel, third son, aged 6 years- The body presented a tenib'e epec'ablo bu‘ it was clear that the child c mid have suffered little having died in hia sleep of suffocation The eldest boy, aged eight years, s tv: tea that the fire aroee from the explosion of a kerosene lamp in the bedroom, which set fire to the bed clothes. 'The boy said that Mrs Carey lad been accustomed to sleep nightly there, and thi t ehe went out between eight and nine o’clock to see her married daughter, ard returned to the house- Hi* impression was she had gone to bed. The firemen made a search but could di cover no other body. The building belonged to Mr Harry Bepnelt, and was insured for £l2O in the Colonial Office. There was no insurance on the furniture. Mr Madden waa staying at his mother’s house and knew nothing of the occurrence till all was over. An inquest will be held on the body cf the child this afternoon.