BURNED TO DEATH

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 122, 26 May 1942, Page 6

BURNED TO DEATH

MAN AND SMALL SON

TRAGEDY NEAR KAIKOHE

(O.Ci WHANGAREI, this day. A double tragedy occurred at Punakitere, 15 miles from Kaikohe, shortly after 11 o'clock last night, when a married man and his infant son were burned to death. The victims were:— Mr. John Barker, aged 27, married, and Kenneth John Barker, aged six months. Mrs. Barker, aged 29, suffered severe burns to the hands and arms and was admitted to the Kawakawa Hospital to-day. Her daughter, Marlene Barker, aged two years, escaped uninjured, as also did Mrs. Helen Cope and her sister,. Miss Inez Mail. The tragedy occurred when a sixroomed house owned by Mrs. H. t. Young, of Mount Albert, and occupied by the Barkers, caught fire and was completely destroyed. An inquest was opened at Kaikone to-day by the coroner. The Barkers went to Punakitere from Ngatea about 12 months ago. Mr. Barker was a Taranaki hockey representative. Mrs. Cope was awakened by sounds in the kitchen, and escaped with Miss Mail from their room, which was filled with smoke, through the window. They found Mrs. Barker standing near the back door with her daughter, who was taken to safety. The back porch fell in. and Mrs. Barker collapsed near the burning debris, but she was dragged to safety. Mr. Barker was heard calling to Mrs. Cope, but when she answered him there was no reply. The whole house was now aflame, and was quickly destroyed. The three women and one child made their way through gorse scrub and blackberry to the home of the nearest neighbours, a mile and a half away, and were given refreshments and accommodation. Mrs. Barker was taken to the Kawakawa Hospital this morning.