A NORMANBY TRAGEDY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 351, 31 March 1910, Page 8

A NORMANBY TRAGEDY

MOTHER AND DAUGHTER BURNT ' TO DEATH. DURING A RAGLNG GALE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Hawera, Wednesday. A fatal fire occurred at Normanby last night. A four-roomed cottage was demolished, and Mrs. Coutts, an elderly woman, and her daughter Isabella, aged fourteen, were burnt to death. The charred remains were recovered. The fire was not seen until the house was destroyed. The Hawera Star gives the following vivid particulars of the sad occurrence: A few months ago the township of Normanby was shocked by the news that a man had been burnt to death in the destruction of the Commercial Hotel, but on Tuesday night an even more dreadful burning fatality occurred at Normanby, by which an elderly invalid woman and her daughter lost their lives. The victims were Mrs. William Coutts and Isabella Coutts, wged fourteen. HOUSE ENTIRELY DESTROYED. The house was a four-roomed one, situated just past Winks' crossing, on the east side of the railway line. There is not the slightest clue to the origin of the fire, and the nearest neighbors were quite unaware of the tragedy that bad occurred until the place was a pile of ashes. THE ALARM was given by Mr. Cyril Gane, who lives some four or five hundred yards away, and who, having occasion to rise to attend to a sick room-mate, first noticed the glare of the fire. This was about 3 o'clock, and. the place was then practically in ruins. Mr. Gane, after hallooing in vain for assistance, apprised Constable Clouston of the fire. A raging gale was in progress. A TERRIBLE DISCOVERY. Apparently the fire was in full blast at 2 o'clock. It was about 3 o'clock •when Mr. Gane first noticed it, and shortly before 4 o'clock Constame Clouston was on the scene. There 'wais nothing 'then but a furnate of -wreckage, and, in addition to the incessant rain, water was thrown on the ruins from a tank at the back of the house. The shed adjoining had been demolished. Soon after operations began Constable Clouston saw amongst the de-brig two human skulls. Assisted by Mr. John Holmes, water was poured on the still furiously-burning ashes, and the corrugated iron, red-hot sheets of which were blown about with smashing force, had to be cooled down before they could be removed and- secured under weights. Between fi and 7 o'clock the remains were, secured and conveyed to the Normanby Hotel. SECRET OF THE NIGHT. There is nothing left to tell how the distressing fatality occurred. A son, Joseph, lived with the mother and daughter at Normanby, but just now he is away on a visit to the father, who, is under medical treatment. Mrs. Coutts has for a lonor time been an invalid, erippled with rheumatism or paralysis. She could only get about the house with difficultv, and in such a crisis as occurred last night would be at a terrible disadvantage. It would appear from the position of the bodies that one of the two. victims (probably the daughter) had almost succeeded in escaping, having got through the passage and close to the kitchen door. The other body was in the bedroom, and it is supposed that Mrs. Coutts had only been able to struggle off the bed. Much svTMiathy will be felt for the family in their tragic bereavement. Besides Joseph (already mentioned) there are two other sons, Andrew and Peter, both of 'whom are working, in the district.

REFLECTION SEEN IN HAWERA. Tuesday night was one for close windows and drawn blinds, and the noise of the gale would effectually deaden all wunds from the burning building. With such «. wind the fire, once exposed to its forcfi, no doubt burnt with terrible fury. The blaze must have been great when the fire was at its height, about 2 o'clock, at which l.our the men's ward at the Hawera Hospital was lit up bv the reflection, and nurses on duty, looking out, were distant witnesses of one of the most distressing of the fatalities than have occurred in this district.