SHOCKING CALAMITY AT CLONES.

Evening Star, Issue 3518, 2 June 1874, Page 3

SHOCKING CALAMITY AT CLONES.

A fire attended with sad loss of life occurred at Clunes at la. in. on May 17. The dwelling of Robert Ellis, a clerk, consisted of four rooms and a detached kitchen. At 11 o’clock the previous night Mrs Ellis, a helpless invalid, the servant, and three children, retired to bed. The father was absent down the town. The gi iT aS awakened h Y the children who slept with her. In the excitement and endeavor to assist Alls Eilisout of tliehousothechildren were foi gotten, and the flames got such mastery over the building that all subsequent endeavors to rescue them were fruitless. The poor children were literally roasted alive. The building, being an old structure of wood, burned with great neiceness, and the supply of water was comparatively small. At the inquest the nursegirl deposed: “ The three children were in the same bed with me. After I had been asleep for some time I was awoke by the little boy. He called out that the candle was burning, I crofc out of bed and opened the bedroom door, and saw that the place was all in flames. I then got out of my bedroom window aud went to call Mr Ellis, but he was not at home, and Airs r if jl )ei ? ed front door. When I got out i-i,, e t ' vo girls were asleep, but the little boy got out of bed. After I had been to call Mr Ellis I went back to my bedroom window and called the children, but could not see or hear them. The room then » t l 111 ! 0^6 an I screamed out xne. 1 had no time to put clothes on, I did not try to get the children out before I got out myself, but thought I would get Air Ellis to assist me. I took Mm Ellis away, and went back for the children. The little boy got into bed again after I opened the bedroom door. I called to all three of them as I was getting out of the window. As soon as I had got out the window got slammed down. When I went back to the window, after going for Mr Ellis, I opened it, but the flames and smoke all rushed out. lam nineteen years of age. When 1 opened the door leading from my bedroom to the dining-room, after being awoke by Johnny, he ran into!the> dining-room aud then back to the bed. He did not get into the bed. I tried to get hold of him before I got out of the window, but could not for the smoke. Just at that time the partition wall between the room I was in and the kitchen fell down.” The mother said: “The three children’s names h ranees Catherine Elizabelh-she would have been ten years old next September; the next was Mary Elizabeth—she was seven years old the 9th of last April; the boy’s name wa,s John Richard Reginald—he was four years old. After I had been in bed a long time, t oughl never slept, I heard a great noise, as if something had fallen. I thought it was my husband closing the door roughly after coming in. I then saw a light on the wail by the window at the foot of the bed. I saw the light move, and then got up in the bed and saw the hie breaking through the partition in the corner at the head of the bed. I then jumped out of bed and went out of my bedroom door along the lobby, and opened the dining-room door a little, and the flames came through. 1 cannot call out; I have scarcely any voice. I then went back to my bedroom, and got my flannel petticoat to put over my head to go through the flames to the children. I then put my hand to the lock of the front door, but suddenly thought it would be bad to-open it, and 1 went back to the dining-room door, to which 1 had to ascend by throe steps, but f was met theie by the flames. I tried to close the diningroom door, but could not. I was unwilling to close my children in. I heard them crying, ihe little boy was calling ‘ Mamma !’ I had no idea that the girl had opened the window or I would have gone through the flames, i then went to the front door, aud saw the girl standing under the verandah in her nightdress 1 was surprised to see her there, thinking she paSSCd door and B° ne out withhefo, i f IT' 1 bh ? “ lght have called me I < m nofckeard her—l am so deaf. I said, Where are the children ?’ She said, 1 hey are in bed. I then went into the house out I ’’’ aUd She got of me aild -Pulled me deS e ” U a r nd retU r ? f da Verdict of “Accidental death, and, while exonerating the nurse-girl ne Sl ect ) it necessary to state that her conduct was deserving of censure in not having made any attempt to save the children.