BURNED TO DEATH

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LII, Issue 8628, 8 July 1924, Page 3

BURNED TO DEATH

Auckland, July 7 A singlt man, Edward Negri Walden, 24 years of ago, was burned to death in a- mysterious fire which broke out in the township of Pokeno on Saturday night- The fire resulted in the destruction‘of a. boarding house and stone, th- property of Mr Henry Richard Walden, brother of deceased. The outbreak started at about 10 p.m. in, the rear of the store. No* fire-fight-ing appliances being available, the flames quickly spread to tbe main building, a- large, wooden structure. Meantime, a maid employed in tbe boardinghouse' escaped, clad only in her night attire. Deceased, win was also- an occupant of tlm place, arrived, and was seen to pass through the front doer of the blazing building. Suddenly the whole construction became cue mass of flame, and yesterday morning the charred remains of deceased were discovered in the wreckage. It would appear that the unfortunate man, thinking that his sister, who lived in the house, was still inside when he arrived, risked his own life in an attempt to rescue her. His body was found in his sister’s room, the latter being safe at another place at the time of the outbreak. An inquest was held before Mr C. Iv. bawrie, coroner of Pukekohe yesterday, and a verdict of accidental death "was returned. (Per Press Association.) Auckland, July 8

In connection with- the Pokeno fire 'fatalitv Walden was the means of saving the lives of a woman and child. The deceased rushed into the burning building to rescue his sister who he bebeved was insideThe housekeeper, MrsLangdon. who was in bed with her little boy Jack was awakened by a voice shouting “May. 7 ’ the name of Walden s sister. The name was shouted once then there was a low munner and no more. Had it not been for this warning Mrs Langdon believes she and her. boy would have perished because she had time only to wrap n blanket rewind the boy and dash for safety. In a moment or two she would have been suffocated.

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