WELLINGTON FIRE TRAGEDY

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14658, 6 May 1913, Page 3

WELLINGTON FIRE TRAGEDY

A MYSTERIOUS OUTBREAK

(PKKSS ASSOPTATION TFXKOKAM.)

WELLINGTON, May 5. Further details in connection with tho LoriiG street «'' c . by which Georgo Frederick Hall, aged 57 3 and his wife, Phyllrs Hall, 57, lost their lives, show that the other occupants, threo male boarders, all slept upstairs. The boarders retired at 9.30 p.m., leaving Mr and Mrs Hall talking m the kitchen. The boarders. Stevenson, Lloyd, and O'S.ullivan, were awakened by tho flames, and hastily , left the premises, scantily clad. In tho meantime the brigade arrived. The superintendent stated that ho was informed that all the occupants ! were out of the house. Tho fire was quickly subdued, and a search revealed the bodies of the two deceased lying in the bedroom. They had evidently endeavoured to escape, and had been overcome by smoke and fumes. Tho bodies wero morelv scorched, and death was due to suffocation. Hall was undressed and had been in bed. His wife was dressed, and had apparently lain on the bed.

The fire started in the rear portion of the upper floor, probably in the boarders' room, which was destroyed. The other two upstairs rooms were slightly damaged. The gas was found burning in the kitchen, and had evidently been forgotten. • • The two deceased arrived from England six years ago. Hall was an Army veteran.

Stevenson and Lloyd are unable to throw any light on the mysterious outbreak. O'Sullivan has not been seen by the police since the fire.