FATAL FIRE AT WELLINGTON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5017, 4 May 1895, Page 3

FATAL FIRE AT WELLINGTON.

A CHILD DIES FROM ITS INJURIES.

A fire which resulted in the loss of one life and serious injury to two .. other persons occurred last night in a .two-roomed tenement in Tory-place, owned by Mr R. Woodham, of Xrhiiiiiiee-street, and occupied by a W named William Bell Patrick, rormerly an hoteikeoper at Wanganui, his wife, and son about two years of age. The fire occurred about 5.20 p.m., «t whicli timo Petor Moronoy, a laborer, who lives next door, was sitting in his bedroom and heard Bomeone groaning in Patrick's house, which was followed by the reflection * of a light on his window. On going to the front of the house he found that Patrick's bedroom was on fire, bat as the door of (ho . cottage was locked ho called to his son John to bring an axe,with which ' he battored in the door. On entering he found the bedroom in darkness and full of smoke, but the sounds of gioaning led him to grope along the ftoor,where he found Patrick lying in the remains of his night clothes. He dragged him outsjft by the shoulder and arm, and returning immediately mado further search and found Mrs Patrick lying on the bed, partially dressed. James Houghara, a bootmaker, who lives close by, assisted him to get the woman out, and they also found the child, which was handed over to a man named Owen Dowel].

All three were evidently very badly burnt, and they were without delay despatched to the Hospital. Sergeant Shirley, who was quickly on the scene, ha J the woman removed in an express in charge of Constable Cassin; Constables Grey and MeGilligan took the child there, Patrick himself being removed on the Fire Brigado's stretcher. On arrival at the Hospital, they were at once attended to by Dr Ewart, who found that they had burns on almost eyery portion of their bodies, He ondeavored to elicit from the adult patients, some idea of how tho tiro occurred, hut they were in too serious a condition to be able to give any information, Hdfijd all he could to relieve their suffings, but tho child died shortly nfter 11 o'clock, and tho man and woman are in a very precarious condition.

Tho fire was extinguished by Moroney before the arrival of the brigade, About £ls worth of damage was done to the house, which is insured in the Liverpool, London and Globe Office, but for what amount is not known. The bed was covered by a kapoc quilt, which had evidently caught fire by some means while Mr and Mrs Patrick were asleep.- N.Z. Times.