A FATAL FIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 163, 12 July 1899, Page 5

A FATAL FIRE.

PORT CHARLES RESIDENT BURNED TO DEATH. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent) , COROMANDEL, this day. News was received in Coromandel yesterday afternoon of a sad fatality which occurred early that morning at Port Charles, whereby William Kerr Farmer was burnt to death in the destruction by fire of a large six-roomed dwelling-house occupied by Mr Kerr and family. The inmates of the house were all in bed at the time the fire was discovered, Mrs Kerr being- first to notice it, but not I until flames were coming through j the ceiling. She immediately roused j her husbnd and son. All three suej eeeded in making, good their escape, ; but Mr Kerr returned to the burning | building in order to secure some imj portant papers, and never returned. He must have been overpowered by ' smoke and perished in the flams. This sad affair has cast quite a gloom lover the whole district, as Mr Kerr, who was an elderly man about fiftyfive years of age, was highly respected by all the inhabitants of Port Charles. Constable Law and Captain Swindley (district coroner) leave at once for the scene of disaster, where , an inquest will be held. No particu- j lars are yet to hand as to the origin of the fire, which is at present a j mystery.