FATAL FIRE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2458, 21 February 1882, Page 3

FATAL FIRE.

FOUR CHILDREN BURNT TO DEATH. [PBKSS ASSOCIATION TEI/BGBAM.] DUHEDIN, February 21. A fire broke out in a small wooden house in Smith street, near the oorner of Dowling street, shortly after four o'clock this morning, by which four children were burned to death. The house was ocoupied by Julius Bisohefski, his wife, and four ohildren, who all slept npatairs. The fire appears to have broken out on the ground floor, and the family were not aroused till it broke through the upper floor. Beeieki and his wife got out through the window, leaving the children in bed, but it was not known for some time that there was any one in the house, as little attention was paid to the maddening screams of Mrs Bisohef • sH when the brigade arrived. However, the house was entirely enveloped in flames, and it would have been too late to have rendered any assistance. The names of the four ohildren burnt were—Franois Bisohefski, aged eight years ; Minnie Bisohefski, aged six years; Martha Biichefski, aged four years ; and Tbos. Oreft, aged thirteen years. A two storey house adjoining, ocoupied by Mr Greenslade, who is the owner of all the property destroyed, was completely gutted. The building is insured in tho Norwich Union for £3OO, but Greenslade estimates his loss considerably above that amount, as his funiture is not insured. The bodies of the four children havo been recovered. There were five ohildren in the family of Bisohefski, who is a brewer in the employment of the Speight family. Mrs Bisohefski jumped out of the window with an infant ohild in her arms. Crefts, one of the victims, is a nephew of Bisohefski. One of the ohildren burnt "gave the alarm, saying, " Mother, too much smoke." The mother got up and opened the door into the children's rooms, but waß driven back by the smoke and flames. The husband then broke through the window, out of which they both jumped into tho Btreet. The mother is badly out about the head and legs. The floor of the bedroom fell into the kitchen below, where the four bodies were found.

The " Buffalo Courier " says :—"As a di»interested observer we are disposed to think that if those who seek to discountenance dancing would strive rather to make it modest and healthful than to kill it by their criticism, something might be done in the way of both moral and sanitary reform. The attempt to abolish dancing altogether seems to be entirely thrown away, for if it be an evil it is one of those exceedingly agreeable I evils which human nature has alwayfl to■dolged in."