SHOCKING CASUALTY. Two Children Burned to Death at Dunedin.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 155, 22 May 1886, Page 4

SHOCKING CASUALTY. Two Children Burned to Death at Dunedin.

Dunedin", May 16, A fatal fire took ploce on Saturday night, in a five-roomed house (wood) at Mornington. Mrs Stockes, wife of a labourer, had put her five children to bed. The eldest, Edward, 11 year 3 of age, and the second youngest, James, slept in their own room, and she left a lamp burning on a chest of drawers. The second, Albert, aged nine, and Amy, aged six and a-half, were in the next bedroom, while a baby was in the cradle in the kitchen. Mrs Stockes was in the kitchen, waiting the return of her husband from town, when she heard an explosion, and on looking she found the bedroom ablaze. She called out to the eldest boy, who caught up his little sister sleeping with him. They made their escape, but Mrs Stockes, instead of snatching the baby from the cradle, ran out for assistance. The boy Albert managed to escape, but his sister Amy, who was in the same room, became confused, and appears to have gone into the room where the fire started. All attempts to reach the two children when the alarm was given proved unavailing, and their bodies were afterwards discovered very much charred. The house was owned by Mr Muir, The furniture was insured for £50.