THREE OF THE KENNEDY FAIMLY BURNT TO DEATH.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 137, 10 June 1881, Page 4

THREE OF THE KENNEDY FAIMLY BURNT TO DEATH.

(From the Glasgow Herald March 30.)

A telegram received in Edinburgh at an early hour on Saturday morning, announced that by the great conflagration at Nice, Mr Kennedy, the distinguished Scottish vocalist, loses a son and two daughters. The names of tbie unfortunate victims are Mr James Kennedy, 25 years ol age ; Miss Kate Kennedy, 19; and Miss Lizzie Kennedy, 17.

At the close of the season's engagements, Mr James Kennedy, with his two sisters, Kate and Lizzie, started for Nice to resume his musical studies for the third year under Signor Lamperti, the ladieß accompanying their brother for the first time. They left Edinburgh about three weeks ago. On "Wednesday week a letter was received by Mr Kennedy from his aon, in the course of which it was mentioned that he and his sisters proposed availing themselves of the opportunity of hearing the opera on the evening of March 23. Though the first accounts of the burning of the Opera-house contained no mention of the loss of any Scotch residents, the telegrams published later stated that "a family ot three persons had perished." Mr and Mrs Kennedy not unnaturally came to the conclusion that this vague intimation referred to the members of their family, and all doubt on tbe subject was set at rest by the following telegram from Mr Robert Kennedy, another member of the family who was studying at Milan, and had hastened to Nice on learning of the disaster along with the rumors that several Scotch people had been found in the ruins : — " It must be told — they are all dead. The theatre blew up, and fell in suddenly ; death was instantaneous."

Further telegrams were received on Saturday from Mr Eoberfc Kennedy. One of the telegrams Btated that the Mayor of Nice had given orders that all the bodies recovered from the ruins of the Opera-house should be buried by Saturday night. Mr Robert added that at 4 o'clock he would get the bodies of his brother and sisters conveyed to a vault in the English Cemetery, six miles from Nice, and that the service would take place on Monday by special permission. In a telegram sent to his mother on I Saturday ; he said:— "At four o'clock to-day I kissed them all for you, mother, then covered them up, and they now lie in the vault till Monday." Since Saturday Mr and Mrs Kennedy have had numerous calls from people anxious to sympathise with them in their bereavement. From some of these people it has been learned that several acquaintances in Edinburgh have received letters from Mr James Kennedy, which were posted on his way to the Nice Opere-house. Letters of condolence have also been: received from gentlemen in all parts of Scotland, maDy of these people being unknown to Mr Kennedy. The deceased are survived by several brothers and sisters — David, who is Manager of! the Natal Witness, at Pietermaritz. burg; Eobert, who is studying in Italy, and is expected shortly tq, rejoin his father; Helen and Margery who have returned from Italy, and now accompany their father in his professional! career; Charles who is finishing hia curriculum as a medical student at the University of Edinburgh; and Maggie and John, who have recently appeared; in public with the family party. | James was a native of Edinburgh, j He travelled with his father through] Australia, New Zealand, and Canada., His training, in addition to what wsb given by bis father, was received from Mr E. Edmunds, of Edinburgh, whose! tuition the deceased highly appreciated., He then went to Milan for two seasons, and, as stated above, he began his third! season under Signor Lamberti, atj Nice, when he was cut off suddenly. , He was of an enthusiastic nature, and! his career was highly successful. In fact, many believed him to occupy a; place in the first ranks of the profession. Kate and Lizzie, who were 19 and 17 years of age respectively* had just: entered upon their professional career, and the former was pronounced by Signor Lamberti to have a very super, ior contralto voice. Miss Lizzie travelled with her father through South , Africa and the JKost Indies. The three

vocalists took every opportunity of hearing the best performances, and were thus sent off in the flush of youth in devotion to the art they had chosen t« pursue.