FATAL FIRE IN DUNEDIN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1036, 24 February 1882, Page 3

FATAL FIRE IN DUNEDIN.

FOUR CHILDREN BURST. A disastrous tire broke out in a small two-storey wooden bouse, in Smith Street, shortly after 4 o’clock on Tuesday last; Tho house was occupied by Julius Bisehcfski, his wife, four children, and a nephewnamed Tnnmas Ciefts, The fire appears to have broken cut on the ground (1 sir of the building, and the family were not aroused till it broke through the upper floor. On being nwakened by his son Frank crying out, “ Mamma, mamma, its smoking,” Mr Pischefski immediately ran to tho children s bedroom, hut upon opening the door ho was met by a strong tongue, of flame which set his niohtdress on fire and forced him to turn back. Rushing to his own room he wrapped himself in a blanket entirely covering his head, and returned to force his way through the flames in tho endeavour to make a rescue. The blanket was burned about him, yet he twice again renewed the attempt. At length the room in which bis wife was in caught fire, and seeing nothing furth-r could be done to save tho elder children b" dragged her wbh the youngest child to the window, where they half jumped half fc.ll to the ground, a distance of about 12ft. Mrs Bischefskt sustained severe injuries liy thy fall, especially about the forehead and tnotr hj. rendering the loss of most "f Imr teeth probable. The bodies of the children—dreadfully charred—were removed to the morgue without delay. The names of the four children burned were : Francis Bischefski, aged S years ; Minnie Rischefski, aged G years .; Martha Bischefski. aged 4 years ; Thomas Grefts, aged 12 years

The two houses on eilher side of Rischefski’s were also burned down, the occupants barely escaping with their lives.