FIRE AT OTAKIA.

Evening Star, Issue 3592, 27 August 1874, Page 3

FIRE AT OTAKIA.

We are indebted to the Commis3''oner of Tojice for the following additional particulars of the tire at Otakia, from which it appears that the burning of the Germans’ tent was purely accidental. Six Germans, working at the Chain Hills, removed, about a month ago $o the Taieri Village, and were camped in the scrub at the rear of Mr M'Kegg’s hotel, Otakia, each man having a tent of his own. Of the number, four were married and two ■ingle, their tents hoing about ten or fifteen yards apart. All went to bed early on H l6 *dght of the 25th inst,, and at about 11 puin. one of the single men named Fredk. Tockabite, was awoke by a scream, and on looking oat he saw the married man, Wm. Goodslaugh, in bis nightshirt, outside his tent, and his hair all in a blaze. Vopkabite then ran inside the tint and tore it open, and found Mrs Goodslaugh and her infant in bed. The two men succeeded is getting the woman and child out and removed them to a neighboring house till next morn in", when they were sent to the Dunedin Hospital. Th© mother, who ia a woman of about twenty years of age, is fearfully burnt on the head, , breast, back, and arms. The infant, Winch isi six months old, is badly burnt about the bead. The fire appears to have orhnBated by the injured persons being in the habit of keeping a naif can filled with halfburnt timber or charcoal burning in their tent at night; andtheir sound sleeping was probably due to their being much aiupefied by the charcoal smoke. The family has been repeatedly cautioned by some of the neighbors of the danger of keeping charcoal burning at night.