BURNED TO DEATH.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 79, 5 April 1926, Page 6

BURNED TO DEATH.

TO SAVE A WOMAN.

MILLHAND SACRIFICES LIFE.

KIXG COUNTRY BLAZE

BOARDING HOUSE AT MAXUXUI.

(B7 Telegrapu.—Press Association.)

TAUMARUXUT, this day.

Bert Robinson, aged about 45, single, a mill hand, lost his life at an early hour this morning in a fire which occurred in Rowan's boarding house at Manunui.

The boarding house, which was a large two-storeyed building, was well ablaze when the occupants. Mrs. Rowan and three boarders. Bert Robinson, R. Smith and W. Simpson, first became aware of the fire at 2.30 a.m.

Mrs. Rowan was sleeping upstairs and the three boarders downstairs. Two of the boarders. Robinson and Smith, rushed upstairs to get Mrs. Rowan out and Robinson had her outside the door of her bedroom when Smith arrived. Smith then took her on to the balcony. He called out for a ladder, which Simpson eventually brought, and Mrs. Rowan, who was then in a state of collapse, was carried to safety.

Tn the meantime it appears that Robinson dashed downstairs and was overcome by smoke, for his charred remains were found this morning at the door of his bedroom. This was a front room downstairs and only a yard or two from the front entrance.

The origin of the fire is unknown. The brigade arrived on the scene as soon as the alarm was given, but Foreman R. Price states there was then no chance of saving anything as the whole house was a blazing inferno. The occupants saved nothing.

Mrs. Rowan escaped in her nightdress and Smith and Simpson in trousers and shirt.

The insurances were not available this morning.

Mr. Rowan, owner of the house, was away in Auckland when the fire occurred.