Two Children Lose Their Lives.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2162, 18 May 1886, Page 2

Two Children Lose Their Lives.

IITTKLKQRAPH.— PBES3 ASSOCIATION.] Dunedin, Sunday. A FATAL fire took place on Saturday night, in a live-roomed house (wood), at Morning, ton. Mrs Stockea, wife of a labourer, hud put her five children to bed. The eldest, Edward, 11 years of age, and the second youngest, James, slept in their own room, and she left a lamp burning on a chext of drawer*. The second, Albert, aged nine, and Amy, aged six and a half, were in the next bedroom, while a baby was in the cradle in the lutcheu. Mrs Stockes was in the kitchen, waiting the return of her husband from town, when xhe beard an explosion, and on looking she found the bedroom ablaze. She called out to the eldest' boy, who caught up hid little sister, sleeping with him. They made their escape, but Mrs Stockes, instead of snatching the baby from the cradle, ran out for assistance. The boy Albert managed to escape, but hjs sister Amy, who was in the same room, became confused, and appears to have gone into the room where the fire started. All attempts to reach the two children when the alarm was given proved unavailing, and their bodies were afterwards discovered, very much charred. The honae was owned by Mr Muir. The furniture was insured for £50.