FATAL FIRE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19113, 23 September 1927, Page 9

FATAL FIRE.

TWO BROTHERS BURNED TO DEATH. TRAGEDY AT WAITAHUNA. (mas lasocuTtoit DTJNEDIN, September 22. In the early hours of this morning, two brothers lost their lives in a burnin,: house at Waltahuna. Their Bister and a young niece narrowly the same fate. The two men were.-- ' Thomas Francis ltyan, single, anu f m Eclward s William Ryan, single, a awoke to End that the house was "• flames, and he immediately arouaedth<> other occupants, who made a exit, "but it was found that Thomas was still in the building. . Edward Ryan returned to the house and found his brother in a room overcome by the flames and smoke, . lie endeavoured to drag the unconscious man through an open window to where his sister (Miss Josephine Ryan) was 'waiting, but finally he- too sucOUßlbed to the effect of the smoke, and Miss Ryan was driven backfrom the window by the flames, which, by this •time' had a good.hold.. ' i , As none of the other residents Jtaa been aroused, nothing could be done to save the men, whose charred bodies were recovered aft6r the house had: been demolished by the flames. Tho exact cause of the outbreak w .'unknown, but it is Buppoiped tha/; it originated in the washnouse or rangp . at the back of the six-roomed house. Miss Ryan and her niece, Maieie Sheehy, aged about ten years, fortunately escaped injury. The Ryans, who were born in the WskitabniA dibferict, were well-known residents. Thomas Ryan owned a small farm, and Edward was a partner in > the firm of Ryan and Nicholson, grocers. \ 'i