SHOCKING OCCURRENCE AT WHARAMEA FERRY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2839, 1 May 1882, Page 3

SHOCKING OCCURRENCE AT WHARAMEA FERRY.

[By Telegraph.] Masterton, May 1. News was brought in this morning of a dreadful death by fire of a man, his wife, and children at Wharemea ferry. The man’s name is Smith and he has been ferryman for many years. No one knew of the fire persons going by discovered the remains of the building and of the man and his wife. The body of the child was found on the hillside where dogs had dragged it. Later.

John Holes reports that yesterday morning, on arriving at Wharamea Ferry, he found the ferry-house burned to the ground. Just inside the house, where the front door had been, were Mrs Smith’s remains, and what he took to be those of George Smith (ferryman), just behind her with a blanket. On searching for the children he found one of the boys’ bodies much burnt on the hill side where it had been dragged by Smith’s dog. He thinks one of the others must have been wrapped in a blanket alongside Smith. There is no sign of the other child. jThe childrens ages were about twelve, ten and three, Tho ruins were still smouldering,

but he thinks the fire took plac e previous to Saturday night. Mrs Smith had apparently been dresso d at the time and the front door was locked: the building was constructed of raupo, and was nearly twenty years old. There were no neighbors ‘for eight miles.