A FATAL FIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 64, 15 March 1916, Page 2

A FATAL FIRE.

WOMAN'S FEARFUL DEATH. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) KARANGAHAKE, this day. Evidence of a sensational nature was forthcoming at the adjourned inquest held at Karangahake to-day, before the coroner, Mr. W. M. Wallnutt, in connection with the fatal fire at the Tramway Hotel boarding-house, which occurred early on Sunday morning, February 20. After the fire, the remains of a female supposed to be Janet Dawson, who was conducting the house whilst her daughter, Mrs. Mouniey, was away in - Australia, were found in the debris. No direct evidence waa given to show that Janet Dawson was in the house at the time of the fire; but the evidence of an elderly man, Joseph Hemus, a music teacher, produced by. Senior-Sergeant Wohlmann to-day set all doubts in this respect at rest. Hemus described the tragic and awful end of the unfortunate woman a3 witnessed by him before any other person arrived on the scene of the fire. When the interior of the building wad partly enveloped in smoke, flames lighting up the interior, he noticed a woman's figure at a window on the top floor, and recognised her as Mrs. Dawson. She was making efforts to open the window, but was not successful. She was dressed in a light coloured material. Witness called out to her to make for the front of the house. He then heard a sound like falling timber, and Mrs. Dawson suddenly disappeared. He heard a scream Witness was so shocked at what ho bail seen that he went home. The evidence showed that Mrs. Dawson was sleeping upstairs at the time of the fire, but ite origin Temains a mystery. The seat of the outbreak appears to have bees the kitchen. The inquiry is proceeding.