BURNED TO DEATH.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1978, 7 February 1914, Page 6

BURNED TO DEATH.

FATAL FIRE IN THE CITY YOUNG MAN'S TRAGIC END. 'A young man named William James Martin, aged 27 years, lost his life in a house in Dixon Street which was destroyed, by fire, of. unknown origin, at 8 o'clock last evening. It was whilst tho efforts of tho brigadesmen were being directed to subduing tho fire that tho charred body of Martin was found lying on the floor in the dining-room. . Tho Central Station received tho larani at 8 p.m., and two motor engines proceeded.in tho drizzling rain to 104 Dixon Street, a' six-roomed two-storied dwelling, which was well alight. At tho time of arrival the'brigadesmen wero not awaro that anybody was in tho house, and the fire, which had a good hold, was smartly got under control. Upon entering tho building a fireman found the body of Martin, badly burned, lying on the boor. Tho remains of the deceased were later conveyed to the morgue.

Tho house • was occupied by Mrs. Laura Bolton, and the deceased was her son, by her first marriage. According to her story to the Firo Brigade Superintendent, she left the house at 7.15 p.m., the v deceased,' who is reported to have been drinking heavily, being the only person then in the dwelling. He was left sitting at a table iii the diningroom downstairs. There were no lights burning when' Mrs._ Bolton left tho house, and everything appeared quite safe.

The house was an old wooden one, and particulars of tho insurances were not available last evening. The furniture, .which was practically all destroyed,,was estimated to be worth £100.. Mrs. Townsend, of Auckland, is stated as being the owner of the dwelling, and Messrs. Longmore and Co. are the local agents.' The building and contents'wero practically gutted. _ Martin was a single man, who for some time past had followed the occupation of a showman, giving exhibitions as a cowboy. The police have made investigations on tho scene, and have been unable to account for his being overcome in the burning building. A .lodger in tho house was at His Majesty's Theatre, and lost everything except the clothes he was wearing.

The body, which was badly burned, is at present in the morgue.

This fire would not have been so 'disastrous had the "Galvo" Chemical Firo Extinguisher been available. LAERY AND CO., LTD., Agents, WELLINGTON. -Advt..