FATAL FIRE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1731, 1 May 1888, Page 2

FATAL FIRE.

Napibb, April SO. A dwelling house and shop occupied by Sheehan, at Waipawa, wets totally destroyed by fire last night. The inmates were asleep, but being aroused, Sheehan and his wife and infant and servant escaped through the windows, getting b idly out and braised. Two lodgari in the house, who it was thought had escaped, were burnt to death, their charred remains being discovered in the ruins. The 1 buildings, including a stable and bakehouse, were totally destroyed. Later. Sheehan and his wife and child slept on the ground floor, and only escaped in their nightclothes, leaving nearly £BO in money in a chest of draweri. The two boarders slept upstairs. They were Odium, a tailor, and Finlayson, a laborer, both natives of Auckland. From the position of the bodies when found it is evident they never had awakened. In the next room a man named Cooney slept. He was awakened by a stifling sensation, and he rolled out of bed and made for his door. He staggered across the room and fell upon his bed, aod was giving himeelf up for lost when, in swinging his umi about whila suffocating, his left hand smashed a window pane. Hs mads one spring and bant right through fhe window, cutting himself badly, and landed on the verandah, and from there hs rolled on to the ground. At the earns time almost his sii ter, who occupied the next room, was seen leaping through her window, and from the verandah aho jumped to the ground. Thai all were saved with tho exo '.pi lion of Odium and Fmlayion, and their charred remains now await the inquest. Ta insurances amount to £spO,