PATHETIC TRAGEDY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 24, 27 January 1906, Page 13

PATHETIC TRAGEDY.

WIFE'S SACRIFICE FGR A BLIND HUSBAND. A distressing fatality occurred at Bristol on December 12th, throngh a fire which broke out in a milliner's shop in Lawrence Hill owned by Mr CMleott. It is believed that the outbreak was caused hy 3Jrs Chilcott in lighting the gas in the shop allowing the light to come in contact with some chiffon hanging by the counter. In an incredibly short space of time the shop was in flames. Mrs Chilcott rushed upstairs to warn and help her husband, who was aiflicted with blindness, and to whom she had only been married a fortnight. The next that was seen of her was at the front window immediately above the shop. She shrieked frantically to the neighbours, many of whom were now collecting outside, to help her and her tiusi>and. A ladder had already been procured, and this was raised against the wall, and Mrs Chilcott was implored to come down, but she refused to leave her husband. Then the frantic wife was observed at the back of the house, and the ladder was brought round and placed against the window. She was entreated to stay where she was while someone came up the ladder to render asistance. By this time, however, the flames were penetrating to the rear of the building, and thick volumes of smoke poured from the window. The unfortunate woman was seen to stagger back, and thereafter was seen uo more. All this time nothing whatever had been seen of the husband, and it could only be surmised that ho had been overcome by the smoke before being able to leave his room. The Qre engine had by now arrived, and vigorous application of the hose resulted in the Qames being subdued, ana in a short while it was possible to enter the house. In a back bedroom on the second floor the blind husband, who Is fifty years of age. was found dead, his body being terribly burnt, while not very far off lay the wife's remains. They were not very badly burned, and the probable cause of death was suffocation.