Two Children Burned to Death

Feilding Star, Volume V, Issue 77, 10 June 1884, Page 3

Two Children Burned to Death

(PEB traiTKD PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Chhistohubch, This Day. - /■■';. Thehouse of Mr Chesterfield, boot- 1 »»k<NV: was burned down ' about 6 last evening, and two children, aged 3 and 5 years, were burnt to death. • Uwo older children had been left in charge of the house while the parents went for a walk. The neighbors made -..every effort to rescue the deceased, but the fire obtained too great a hold before their arrival. Theoigin of the fire is b not yet known. Later. / ' -The following are the circumstances of the fatal fire at Springfield :— William Chesterfield, bootmaker, asked his wife to accompany him to put his mare in the paddock. They left in the house five children, and the eldest boy of twelv» ' bai to look after the house and younger :... oms. A neighbour shortly after looked • ia and asked if their father was at home. All was then right, and, receiving an answer in the negative., he went away. Tku vottld be about half an hour before ' the fire was seen. After this the youngest boy of the three and the next, a girl of about four or five years of age, were put io bed. The two eldest boys then went out, leaving a girl of six by herself. All further that is known from this little one is that she was unlacing her shoes when the flame of the candle, the only light burning, caught a towel or something. Before any alarm was given the fire had go* a complete hold of the house, which with everything it contained was iv half jut homr burnt to the ground.