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Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 554, 5 August 1869, Page 4

A veiy shocking occurrence is reported by the Warrambool Examine.)' : — "A fire occurred at Burrell's Flat, near Koroit, with fatal consequences, two children being burned to death, and another severely scorched. The parents, Jabez Unwin and his wife, left their cottage about seven o'clock in the evening, and went to Koroit, leaving their five children in the house. ■ The children went to bed about nine, and an hour afterwards the eldest boy, a lad of thirteen, awoke, and found the cottage in a blaze. The three elder children made their escape, but the youngest, a boy of five years old, and a girl of two years and ten months remained behind. In the confusion of the alarm, and with his nightshirt on fire, the elder boy rushed outside after calling to the others, and when he tried to return he was prevented by the fury of the flames. A cjirl of seven, though she made her escape, was badly burned in many parts of her body. The cottage was of slabs, with a thatched roof ; the flames spread so quickly that the neighbours were powerless to render any assistance, and the two poor little children were burned almost to cinders. One, when found, was an almost indistinguishable, crumbling mass, and the body of the other ( was thoroughly charred on one side, presenting a frightful spectacle. There is no doubt that the fire occurred accidentally. The chimney was of slabs, and they must have been ignited from the fire on the hearth." A coroner's inquest resulted in a verdict of accidental death.