A FATAL FIRE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12850, 8 July 1907, Page 7

A FATAL FIRE.

DISTRESSING DETAILS. MOTHER AND CHILD BURNT TO DEATH. TWO OTHERS SERIOUSLY INJURED. (PMW ASSOCIATION TKLXGRAJI.) DUXEDIN, July 7. A fatal fire occurred at Port Cha- ,- ers this .moriiinu- Constable Smart Liwd flamM issuing from a two•torey wooden house, nnd on hurrying to tho scene found a young man named William AberfiVld and his sister-in-law, Hino Rehu. lying on tho footpath severely burnt and injured. It itppea™ that the inmates were awakened by the ro;ir of the flames, and Aberfie'ld rushed to tho front window over-looking tho street, telling hig ivife to throw their four-year-old cj.jld into his arms after he had jumped down. He jumped about 15ft, and finding his wife did not appear, climbe4 back through tho window and jearched for them, but was driven back by the flames and smoke before ho could reach them. He, however, atnrobled over his wife's sister, a girl 11 years' old, crouching in tho corner o f a room. He picked her up and dropped her from tho window on to the pavement and jumped out himBfllf. Dr. Borrie was quickly on the eoeno, and attended to the sufferers. Aberfield was badly burned and also suffered severe walp wounds and lacerations from tho broken window panes. Hine Rehu was so shockingly buined as to bo almost beyond hope of recovery. Both were sent to the hospital. After the fire was £pt under the bodies of Mrs Aberfield and her child *a« discovered among tho debris.

Aborfiold had only been in the port ebout four weeks, and was employed at the new dock. His parents reside »t Greenhills, near the Bluff. Mrs Aborfiekl only came to port a couple of weoks ago to join hor husband, and her little sister was staying with her oa a visit.

The house belonged to John Watson, and was insured, but the amount has jot jot been ascertained.