WOMAN AND CHILD BURNT TO DEATH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3769, 9 July 1907, Page 3

WOMAN AND CHILD BURNT TO DEATH.

Others Seriously Injured.

Dunedin, July 7

A fatal fire occurred at Port Chalmers this morning, Constable Smart noticed flames issuing from a two-story wooden house, and on reaching the scene found a young man named William Aberfield and his sister-in-law, Hine Rehu, lying on the footpath severely burnt and injured. It appears that the inmates were awakened by the noise of fire, and Aberfield rushed to a front window overlooking the street, telling his wife to throw their four-year old child into his arms after hejumped down. He jumped about fifteen feet, and finding his wife did not appear, climbed back through the window and searched for her and the child, but was driven back by the flames and smoke before- he could reach them. Aberfield, however, stumbled over his wife’s sister, eleven, years old, who was crouching in a corner of the room. He picked her up and dropped her from the window on to the pavement, and jumped out'again himself. Dr Bonds was quickly ottthe scene, arid attended to the sufferers. Aberfield is badly burned and suffered severe scalp wounds and lacerations from the brokenwindow panes. Hine Rehu .Js so shockingly burned as to be almost beyond hope of recovery. Both? are now in hospital. After the fire was got under the bodies of Mrs Aberfield and trie child were discovered among the debris.

Aberfield had only been in the' port about four weeks, and was employed at the new dock. His parents reside at Green hills, near Bluff.

Mrs Aberfield came to the port a couple of weeks ago to join her husband, and her little sister was staying with him on a visit. The house belonged to Mr John Watson, and was insured, but the amount is not yet ascertainable.