A NERRASKA MYSTERY. Seven Persons Found Burned to Death in a Barn.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 268, 30 May 1888, Page 4

A NERRASKA MYSTERY. Seven Persons Found Burned to Death in a Barn.

Seven poisons weie burned to death eaily on .May 4fh in a barn on a farm ne.u Ai button, Neb. They weie Mrs ]'iuc/e, who is a widow, her son-in-law, Ficcl Giateluschen, his wife and three children, and his brother, Louis (irurulu&chen. They all lived on the farm, and had no ncighbouis nearer than half-a-mi le. The hmoko was seen in Arlington, and a party ol citizens went out to investigate the aiiair. Upon arriving at the form, they found the barn totally destroyed, together with twenty-five head of stock. In the ruins of the barn, scattered among the dead horse.-) and cattle, they found the remain- of the entire family. No one knowb how it happened. Some few entertain a suspicion ot foul play, but the majotity incline to the beliet that the barn took Hie in some way, perhaps through the act of an incendiary, and that the family rushed to the rescue of the live stock, and, while attempting to loosen them, were mi (located. The only survivor of the family is a daughter, who is away visiting. No feud exists between the members of the family, and no enemies are known. The body of Mrs Gratclnschen was ciushcd under the body of a horse, and was the only one which could bo recognised, the otheis being honibly burned. The dwelling was found to bo in excellent order, the morning'.s work was well under May and no disorder was noticeable. E\eiything goe-. to show that, upon the discovery of the lire in the barn, a rush was made to save the lhcri ot the animals, and that all a\ ere caught and suffocated. The tlnee childion langed in ago from one to six yeais. It i^ singular that thct-e young childvcn should also have been caught in the barn. The youngest one must have been can ied there by the mother in her excite mcut. At the Coroner's inquest no evidence was produced to show foul play, and the verdict was accidental Hre, the origin of which was unknown. Louis Uiateluschcn, who was employed as a labourer on the farm, was a great smoker, and it is thought the fire caught from a spark from his pipe.

Fkeioiits ox L/liekse. — The Now Zealand Shipping Company, in response to representations made by Southern shippers on the subject of the excessive rates ot freight on cheese and butter exported to England by the direct steamers, have forwarded the following important communication to Mr H. S. Valentine, M.H.R., Chairman of Directors of the Goro Dairy Factory, who has taken a prominent part m the negotiations :—" Dunedin, sth May. Dear Sir, — This Company has decided to reduce the freight on cheese, after Ist July next, to £d per pound, with tho usual ten per cent, primage gross weight, payable in the colony. The freight on butter bo bo Id per pound gross weight with ten per cent, primage payable in the colony. We shall "bo prepared to carry cheese in a woll-ventilated part of tho steamers at 80s and 10 per cent, per ton, gross weight.— Wm. B. Bo yd, Local Manager."