TERRIBLE TRAGEDY!

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1005, 21 February 1882, Page 2

TERRIBLE TRAGEDY!

Four Children Burnt to Death. (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Donedin, Feb, 16. A fire broke out in a small wooden house in bmilh-street, near the corner of Dowling-st shortly after i o'olock this morning, by which four children were burnt to death, The houae was occupied by Julius Bessesiki, his wife, and tuur children, who all slept upstairs. The fire appears to have broken out on the ground floor, and the family were not aroused till it broke through the upper floor. Bessesiki and his wife got out through a window, leaving the children in bed, but it was not known for some time afterwards that there was any one in the house as little attention was paid to the maddening screams of Mrs Bessesiki. When the brigade arrived, however, the house was entirely envoioped in flames, and it would have been ton late to render any assistance. The names of the four children burnt were Francis Bessesiki, aged 8 years; Minnie Bessesiki, 6 years; Martha Bessesiki, i years; and Thos. Creft, aged 13 years, A two tsorey house adjoining, occupied by Greenslade, who is l the owner of all the property destroyed, was completely gutted, The building was insured in the Norwich Union for £3OO, but Greenslade estimates his loss at considerably above this amount, as the furniture was not insured, The bodies of the four children have been recovered,