FIRE AND SHOCKING LOSS OF LIFE.

Evening Star, Issue 2811, 21 February 1872, Page 2

FIRE AND SHOCKING LOSS OF LIFE.

A fire occurred in the North East Talley this morning, resulting in the destruction of a dwelling-house and, we regret to add, the loss of one life under very distressing circumstances. At a short distance from the main road, and about eighty yards nearer town in 'a straight line from the bouse which was destroyed, resided a settler named Hill Thomas. Between six and seven o’clock this morning the latter observed that the chimney of his house was on lire ; and a man named Kay, who was passing' on t’he road ap the time, watched the flames, policing at the same time that the next house, which was occupied by a family name;! Mason, was all right. ” He had hardly proceeded many yards when he observed Mason’s house to be in flames, and he and Thomas concur iu the belief that a spark from the latter’s chimney was carried along by the strong northerly wind that was blowing at the time, and falling on the thatched roof of Mason’s house, set tire to it. The house occupied by H-e Masons was very old, was built some twenty ago, and belonged to Mr Lindsay, There lived in if; Air David Mason, junior, who was married two months ago, his wife, and his father, the unfortunate deceased. Mr Mason, senior, has been in the Colony for twelve years, and was in the Jrabit of travelling between here and Wanganui ’Vt* visits to his children. He was a hearty, strong old man, y;d came hero last month, to stay a short time with his son and new daughter-in-law. The family retired to rest a little after midnight last night; and a little before seven this morning Mr Mason jun, hearing a noise in his father’s bedroom up hairs, went to see what was the matter. When he got to the foot of the stairs, the flames were nuhing down them, completely preventing any communication with his father by that means. He immediately went to the outside, and, clambering on to the roof of the lean-to, which was right beneath the deceased’s bedroom, reached the window and endeavored to burst it open with his list. But his efforts were for a time unavailing, as the window was closed with a bar, which his father inside was looking for, apparent’y not able to see it, emd a moment after the sou saw his father make, what seemed to him, a final effort, and fall back into life flames, which almost immediately burst through thp window, compelling you g Mr Mason to retreat from his position. By this time the house was enveloped in flame, and so quick was the progress of the fire that hardly any property was saved. When the fire was got under, the chared remains of old Mr Mason were discovered, and removed to the Cattle Market Hotel, where an inquest was held at three p.m , before Dr Ho -keu, when the following evidence ynig given : David Mason : I am a grocer, and reside in the North East Valley, The deceased, Robert Mason, was my father ; was 72 years of age this month, anil was a native of Dumblane, Scotland. At about seven o’clock this morning, when I and my wife awoke, we heard a noise as of something falling iu my father’s bedroom, which was over our heads. The noise resembled that of falling rasters, I immediately sprang out of bed, but did not spicll lire, the first indication of which >vaß finding the parlor full

of smoke. When I got to the foot of the stairs, I found them and the top of the house all in flames, t called to ray father to save himself by the window, as I Thought he could have easily got oat that way 1 could not by any possibility have gone up the stairs. 1 ran out and got on top of the lean-to, and simshed in the window. He was at the window, surrounded by flames, but did not appear to have known how to find the bar, and remove it. When the flames burst out I had to retire, and justsaw him disappear, as though he had been suffocated. He did not speak. I then ran into the house, and by the time I got there my bedroom was in flames. 1 have lost almost everything, but have not the slightest idea of how the fire originated. I am sure it originated on the thatched roof outside. Neither the house nor furniture was insured. If my father had succeeded in finding the bar when 1 called to him, he could have easily got out. The fire must have commenced just above the bedroom door, and the flames being thick there, prevented him making for the stairs. When the rafters fell I heard him say, “Oh, what is all this about,” as if he had been awoke by the flames. To a juror : I could not by any possibility have got up the stairs. Three other witnesses were examined, but the only evidence of importance was that of Thnma a , who said he believed the fire originated in a spark from his chimney falling on Mason’s roof. M‘Lennan deposed to finding the body lying with the face downwards after the fire was got under. The body was much charred, the legs and arms, as far as the elbow joints, burnt away. The jury returned a verdict of “ accidentally burned.”