FATAL FIRE AT WELLINGTON.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2169, 7 February 1881, Page 3

FATAL FIRE AT WELLINGTON.

THREE CHILDREN BURNED TO DEATH.

(PEESS ASSOCIATION TBLEOEAM.) WELLINGTON, February 6,

A fire, attended with fatal results, occurred at Newtown at ten o’clock last night, the house occupied by Charles Whittington, a driver, being destroyed, and his three children, Herbert Christopher Whittington, Sarah Oliver Whittington, and Milly Whittington, aged six years, three years, and ten months respectively, burnt to death. Mrs Whittington put the children to bed early in the evening, ond came to town, her husband remaining in the house. He left the building about an hour laterto meet his wife. On their raturnand when near home there was a strong small of fire. Whittington ran to the house and discovered that the back portion was on fire. He gained admission, but was unable to reach the children. The fire by this time had a firm hold, and all efforts to rescue the inmates were unavailing. Great excitement prevailed amongst the spectators when it was known that the children were in the burning building. Whittington states that everything was safe when he left, and that no lights were left burning, but a few sticks of wood were burning in the kitchen fireplace. It is not known how the fire originated, but it is thought that it must have been caused by the fire in the kitchen. The remains were found at midnight. The boy was not much burnt, only the trunk of the eldest girl was found, and nearly all traces of the infant were destroyed by the fire. Whittington saved nothing, and, being uninsured, is a heavy loser. The building, which was totally consumed, was owned by Mr Sutherland, and it is not known if it was insured.