A PAINFUL SEQUEL TO THE EXETER FIRE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2412, 24 December 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

A PAINFUL SEQUEL TO THE EXETER FIRE.

Our Tiverton correspondent writes:— “Mrs.Upham, a widow, of 7, Red Cow village, Exeter who lost her favourite son William, in the Exeter Theatre fire was on Monday conveyed to Digby’s Asylum Exeter, hy order of Drs,Lewis Mackenzie and Fisher, of Tiverton. Since the awful fate of her son—who was one of the dead found in the fatal gallery staircase —was made known, the poor woman has almost completely lost her reason. On the advice of friends she went to stay at Tiverton with another son who is a railway porter there, with the hope that the change might be beneficial The circumstances of William Upham’s death were these:—The unfortunate young man. who has served in the Artillery, went to the theatre on the fatal night .with a friend named Tavener. Uphamgot clearfrom the gallery but oufinding his mate had not come down he returned to the staircase. Presently he was seen to emerge with a woman in his arms, and, as though spurred on by this rescue, he threw off his coat and re-entered the stairs, from which, alas! he never returned alive.”