DEATH BY FIRE

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 188, 8 May 1934, Page 11

DEATH BY FIRE

Two Women Trapped in, Burning Home HAWKE’S BAY TRAGEDY Bv Telegraph.—Press Association. Dannevirke, May 7. A tragedy occurred at Bloomfield, near Ti-Tree Point, at about 8.30 last night when a well-known settler, Mrs Ellen Franklin, aged 76, and her companion, Miss Smaile, about 40, perished in a fire which destroyed the house occupied by them. The fire was discovered by a neighbour named Mr. Churchouse, who lives opposite. He hurried to the house, which is situated on a hill about 300 yards from the road, and succeeded in reaching Mrs. Franklin’s bedroom but failed to discover her. He was unable to gain access to any other part of the building owing to the raging flames and intense smoke, and nothing-fur-ther could be done to help. This morning tlie bodies of Mrs Franklin and Miss Smaile were found lying in a passageway. Mrs. Franklin, who was a widow, had resided in the house in which she met her death for the past 46 years, and had previously lived in the Wairarapa. Miss Smaile had not long been lady companion to Mrs. Franklin, haying come here from Auckland. It is believed that she has a sister residing at Wanganui. Mrs. Franklin leaves a family of five sous, all well-known settlers, and a married daughter, Mrs. Young, residing at Woodville.