A HARROWING RECITAL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 325, 9 May 1877, Page 4

A HARROWING RECITAL.

The Auckland correspondent of the Dunedin Star sends that journal the following :—> ▲ most narrowing recital was told to the pofay this morn'ng by a young lad who arrived from Lucas Creek in the steamer Te Aroha. It contains particulars of the wretched death of an inveterate drunkard aamed Wm. Jas. Peacock, who, with the lad •bore mentioned, lived in a miserable wfcare.on theßiverhead side of Paromore■sore Greek. Both Peacock and the lad have been maintaining themselves by gumdigging, and have lived together for about •IX months. Peacock has been in the Colony sixteen years, was formerly in the Commissariat Militia, and has had four narrow escapes from drowning, caused by -intoxication. On two or three occasions he was burnt out of his whare. The boy Keebitt relates that yesterday Peacock, •iter being away all day, came back partly drunk, brought a bottle of rum, which he emptied, lay down and lit his pipe, throwing the match down. Shortly after the bojsaw smoke and flames coming from the head of Peacock's bed. and he roared oat to him "to get out," and went over _ and shook him ; but he was so dead drunk that he only gave a groan and did not etir. The flames were getting fiercer, and the boy tried to drug him out. Just as only his legs were on the bed a powder- . flask, which was kept under his pillow, exploded and filled the placs with smoke. The boy fell backwards, and Peacock came on to his legs. Nesbitt got up with some

difficulty, and again tried to drag him out; i bat it was more than Ixp could do to move him more than an inch or two at a time. He dragged him by the hair, and some of It came out in his hand. When he got him to the doorway the whole placj was in a blaze, and there was another explosion from Peacock's gun, which was hanging on the wail loaded. Kesbitt, knowing that if he stopped any longer he would be burnt, ran out, got a:i axe, and cat a hole in the side of tlte whare, hut the flames .burst out and burnt a hole in his shirt before he could get clear. Then a dirty black smoke arose, and Lucas could smell that Peacock was roasting. W.ien discovered, afcer the fire was out, Peacock's legs and arms were burnt oft'.