SHOCKING OCCURRENCE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2569, 1 July 1882, Page 3

SHOCKING OCCURRENCE.

THESE CHILDREN BURNED TO DEATH. IPBB3S ASSOCIATION TBEBSKAM.j DUNEDIN, July 1. This morning, shortly after midnight, a fire broke out in a fifteen-roomed house in Oumborland street, oooupied by Capt. H. Kitchener and family. Susan Kitchener, ,iged eleven ; Sydney, aged eight; and Edith, aged six, ware burnei to death in their beds. Capt. Kitohener, W. H. Ash, Mrs Kitchener, and Bridget Mullins, the servant, were all severely burnt, but escaped by jumping from the second storey window. The house is insured in the National for £7OO.

Lator. The flames spread so rapidly that no dingle article of f urnitu re or clothing was saved by any of 'he inmate*. The servant girl (Bridget Mailing) escaped uninjured. Mr Ash's injuries consist of cuts and bruises through falling. Mr Kitohener is badly cnt and burned. He was delirous for somo hours, and has sinea been removed to the hospital. It is believed that the fire originated through some clothes being left iu front of the fire in the kitchen igniting. The house gelonged to Mr M. W. Green, M.H.B. ' FTTLLEB PABTICULAE3. Further aocounts say that Mrs Kitchener oocupisd one bedroom with hor two daughters and baby, was awoke by the sensation of suffooation, and hearing the other ohildren coughing. She woke all the ohildren, vent into the next room, called her husband, with whotc two eons he was sleeping. She lifted the baby out of its cot, linked her arm round the eldest girl, and dragged another girl by the hand along the pansage, where she was mtt by the flames at the stair head ; the eldest girl succumbed to the smoke, and fell. The brave woman struggled on through the flames, still retaining hold of the other girl, till she reaohed the foot of the stairs, where the flames raged terrifically. A policeman now burst in the front door, and seeing the child was dead, disengaged her from it. Mrs Kitchener and baby thus got out of the front door, not from the second story, as before telegraphed. Captain Kitohener managed to throw the two eldest boys out of the upper window facing the street, and triod to rescue another, but the flames drove him back. Ho is fearfully bruised by his fall, sustaining severe internal injuries. He has been delirious ever Binca. Mrs Kitohener, who retains all her faculties, thinks the fire originated from the careless use of colonial coal. Dr. Ooughtrey, who is in attendance, despairs of the recovery of Capt. Kitohener or the baby. Oopt. Kitchener served for many years in the 41st Begiment, a greater part of the time in Jamaica, whore he was married. In 1874 ho was induced to come to New Zealand to manage the estate of hill unole, Colonel Kitohener, at Waiheno, near Palmerston. He relinquished the 'management two years ago, sinoe which fortune hea frowned on him. Their circumstances became worse, and six months ago he opened a boarding establishment in tho house where the fire occurred. As every article is deBtroycd, and not insured, tho fire renders them absolutely pennilets. General sympathy is exprooaed for tho unfortunate family. The scene at tho recovery of the bodies waa heartrending.