BURNED TO DEATH

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 95, 23 April 1928, Page 8

BURNED TO DEATH

MAN AND HIS SISTER.

BROTHER ESCAPES NARROWLY

RED-HOT ROOF COLLAPSED.

WARNING GIVEN TOO LATE

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

W AIMATE, this dav.

A man and his sister were burned to death early on Sunday morning, when their home, situated at Waituna, was destroyed by fire. A brother narrowly

escaped.

Those killed were: —

Francis John O'Brien, aged 68, un married.

Freda Bertha O'Brien, aged 50, un married.

The man who escaped, just before the roof fell in, by clambering through a window, is Ernest James O'Brien, aged

The house, which was a landmark, having been erected for over 50 years, was reduced to nothing but cinders and twisted iron.

The survivor awoke about 6 a.m. to find his room full of smoke. He rushed to warn the other two, but the way to their rooms was blocked by flames. He shouted to awaken his brother, but received no reply. He rushed back into his bedroom, grabbed a few clothes, and jumped out of the window. Rushing round the house, he shouted to his sister at her window, and just as lie received a reply the red-hot roof fell in.

The charred remains of the two victims were recovered later.

As his watch and braces were found on O'Brien's remains it is surmised that he returned home tired late on Saturday night, lay down on his bed fully clothed and fell asleep, leaving burning a kerosene lamp or candle.