FIRE AT TIMARU.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 571, 18 April 1876, Page 3

FIRE AT TIMARU.

We take the following detailed account of the fire at Timaru, which resulted in a woman being burned to death, from yesterday’s Herald: —“ The most shocking and discreditable occurrence which we have ever had to relate in connection with the town of Timaru took place during the night of Saturday and Sunday last. Soon after one o’clock the fire-bell was rung, and in a short lime a large number of people were going in the direction of where there was a bright glare in the western end of the town, the fire brigade making for their station to procure the fire engine. The fire turned out to be in the house of a Mrs Duncan, who lived in a two-roomed house in Grey road, just at the back of the Timaru Public School, The police, including Inspector Pender, were among the first to arrive at the scene of the fire, the building being then enveloped in flames. Immediately upon reaching the place they found a man named Sydney Jones, who used to pass for Mrs Duncan’s husband, and a man styled Jack Butler, both of whom were in a drunken and mad state, close to the building. Tha whiskers had been singed off Jones’s face, and Duller bore marks which suggested that he had been disfigured in a row. Jones gave the lookers-on to understand that Mrs Duncan and a man had been unable to get out of the building and were being burned to death, This caused a profound sensation amongtheon-lookera,but the flames had such a mastery of the building that it was apparent that if there were people inside they must then be already dead. The fire brigade under Captain Wildie, who arrived at the place about twenty minutes after the alarm was given, commenced to play on the burning building, with water which they obtained from a tank in the vicinity. As scon as the fire began to get low, the report that life had fcren lost was confirmed, for the bystanders could discern 1 ying partly on the foot of a bedstead and partly on the floor a human form, which presented a ghastly spectacle. As the water subdued the surrounding embers the form became more distinct, and it was then seen that most of the clothes were consumed, that the flesh had all been burred off the head, the white skull showing up co isp>cuoaaly through the glare, and that the flesh bad been burned to the bone from a portion of the thigh. As soon as it was safe to do so, Inspector Pender made an examination of the remains of the burning building, but could find no other body than the one just alluded to. Dr Macintyre accompanied him in the search, and examined the remains of the body, which he pronounced to be those of a woman. By this time a veiy large number of people had col’ected in the vicinity of the catastrophe. As soon as pjssib’e an enquiry into the matter was instituted. It appeared that the house was one of ill-fame, and that it was occupied in the name of Mrs Duncan. Shortly after 11 o’clock three men went there, and soon afterwards a fourth joined them. At about 12 o’clock a row took place, shouts of murder being distinctly heard by the neighbours proceeding from the house. An interval of quietness succeeded, until it was broken by another row and cries of murder. A neighbor named Clarkson ran out, found Mrs Duncan’s house on fire, and heard screams coming from within, which he believed to be those of a woman. He found Jones at the back of the house rolling on the ground, and crying out that there were a man and woman inside. He immediately attempted to enter the door, but the flames compelled him to retreat. Some person about this time ran to the fire bell, and the circumstances then occurred which we have narrated above. The marks on Butler’s face, which comprised a black eye, and several cuts, are supposed to have been caused during the row that was heard. As soon as the police ascertained the state of affairs, Jones and Butler were arrested on a charge of manslaughter. It transpired that the woman, without doubt, was intoxicated 1 when the tire took place, Jones stated when arrested that he was lying on the sofa in the kitchen when the fire occurred, and that there was a man in the bedroom with the woman at the time. The body of the woman wr i leit lying where it was found until day I’got, when an examination was made, which proved that at the time of the fire the woman was iully dressed. The body after tip's was removed to Lynwood House. An inquiry was set on foot early in the morning for the man who was said to have been last with the woman, and this resulted in the apprehension of Robert Orr on tae same charge as Jones and Butler. He admits having teen in the house, but states that he left it before the fire broke out, and that he was ba’f way >0 his residence when the bell rang. Jonoo believes that the fire was caused by the overturning of a kerosene lamp during a row. An inquest will be held at two o’clock on Tuesday (this day),”