Fatal Fire at Dunedin.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4212, 1 July 1882, Page 2

Fatal Fire at Dunedin.

Three Lives Lost.

" (Pee Pbess, Association.)

Dunedin, This day.

At 12.30 this morning a fire broke out in a fifteen roomed, Cumberland street, occupied by Captain H. Kitchener and family. It was insured in the National Office for £700. Susan Kitchener (aged eleven), Sydney (aged eight), and Edith (aged six) were burned to death in their beds. Captain Kitchener, W. H. Ash, Mrs Kitchener, and Bridget Mullins were severely burnt, and escaped by jumping from the second story window.

La.tee.| I The flames spread so rapidly that no single article of furniture or clothing was saved by any of the inmates. The ser> vant girl escaped uninjured. Mr Ash's injuries were cuts and bruises through falling. Mr Kitchener was badly cut|nd burned, and was delirious for some hours since his removal to Hospital. It is believed the fire originated through clothes left in front of the fire in the kitchen igniting. The house belonged tq M. W. Green, M.H.B . Further Particulars. The fire originated in a house containing 15 rooms, occupied by Col. Kitchener with his family and one boarder (Mr Aah). The flames spread very rapidly, and the inmates who managed to escape barely did so with their lives. Not an extra moment was available for the purpose of saving goods. Col, Kitchener and his wife were badly burned, as they succeeded in escaping with three children, who also suffered from the flames, and were conveyed to the parsonage occupied by the Eev. Mr Fitchett. By this time the flames had obtained a complete mastery of the building, so that the attention of the fire brigade was directed to preventing the flames spreading. Various surmises were made.as to where it originated, one statement being to the effect that it commenced in the dining room. A passer by asserts that be had seen the reflection in the upper bedroom 1 nearest the ftotauical Gardens. It appears the man who first observed the fire broke in the front door and gave a speedy alarm to the inmates. Colonel and Mrs Kitchener saved themselves and baby by dashing through the front window on to the verandah, and jumping therefrom, while two children who also made a passage through the windows were saved by jumping into the arms of Constable Dwyer. The servant girl escaped by means of a backstairs. After the fire had been extinguished, some of the firemen ascended to the upstairs portion and found the charred remains of the three elder children,, which were about the centre of the floor, just above the dining room. Colonel Kitchener, who lately came from Palmerston to Dunedin, was almost frantic with grief at the loss of his children. His principal injuries are several cuts about bis hands.