BURNED TO DEATH

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 284, 28 August 1935, Page 10

BURNED TO DEATH

Eighty-two-year-old Man Who Lived Alone

RESCUE ATTEMPT FAILS

By Telegraph.— Press Arworintion Auckland. August 27.

An old man, Mr. John O'Leary, was burned to death when it one-roomed whare in which he lived alone :it Riverhead was destroyed by lire to-night. It is believed that Mr. O'Leary, who was 82 years old, collapsed after lighting a fire, and that the Haines, uncontrolled, spread rapidly until I he whole building was ablaze. An attempt at rescue was made by Mr. S. R. Gould, postmaster and storekeeper, but he was driven back by the flames. The whare occupied by Mr. O'Leary was one of five situated well back from the road. The occupants of the other four cottages, all old men, were not disturbed, and the alarm was not given until the flames had a strong hold.

“It was seen that the whare was burning, and I was called about 0 20.” Mr. Gould said. “I was the first to reach the whare, and broke open the door with a piece of wood, but flames burst out and made it impossible to enter. People who came to help could do nothing, and we just had to stand by and wait until the fire had burned itself out.”

It was not known at. first whether Mr. O’Leary was in the building, although anxiety was felt for his safety, Mr. Gould continued. When the fire had subsided sufficiently to enable an inspection to be made, however, the charred remains of his body were found near the fireplace.” Mr. O’Leary, who had resided at .Silverdale before removing to Riverhead about two years ago, paid a visit to Auckland to-day. He returned to Riverhead -by motor launch at about 6 o’clock, and was then in a weak state, having to be supported for a short distance after leaving the launch. It is not known whether Mr. O’Leary had any relatives in New Zealand.