FATAL FIRE AT SPRINGFIELD. [BY TELEGRAPH.-PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1861, 10 June 1884, Page 2

FATAL FIRE AT SPRINGFIELD. [BY TELEGRAPH.- PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

TDhiu'stciiurch, Monday. The house of Wrh. Chesterfield, bootmaker, Springfield, was ' burnt down about 6 o'clock yesterday evening, 'and two children, aged three" and five years respectively, were burnt to death. Two older children had been left in charge of the house while the parents went for a walk. The neighbours made every effort to rescue the deceased, but the fire had obtained too great a hold before they arrived The origin of the fire is not yet known. ,*,. Later. The circumstances of the fatal tire at Springfield are as follows :— Wm. Chesterfield, bootmaker,' akked Mrs Chesterfield to accompany him to put a mare into a paddock. They left in the house five children, and the eldest a boy of 12 had to look after the house and the younger ones. A neighbour shortly afterwards looked in and asked if their -father was at home. All was then right. Receiving an aflswer in the negative, he went away This would be about half an honr before the fire was seen. After this the youngest boy of three and next, a girl of four to five, were put to bed. The two eldest boys then went out, leaving a girl of six by herself. All that is further known from this little one is that she was unlacing her shoes when the flames of a candle left burning caught a towel, and before any alarm was given the fire had got a complete hold of .the house, which with everything it contained was in half-an-hour burnt to the ground. It was insured in the Standard for £125, and the furniture in the Australian Mercantile Company for £75. Nothing was saved. Besides wearing apparel and stock Chesterfield has lost his account books.