FIRE TRAGEDY

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 23, 21 October 1944, Page 6

FIRE TRAGEDY

Four Lives Lost On West Coast FAMILY INCINERATED (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WESTPORT, October 20. Tragedy overshadowed the small township of Hector early this morning when four people, a father, mother, son and daughter, were burnt to death in a fire which gutted their house. The victims were: Elias Martin, aged 62, mine manager of the Hydro Coal Company mine. Mona Mary Martin, aged 62, his wife Reginald Wilfred Martin, aged 31, his son. a fitter employed by the State mine at Ngakawau. Esma Mona Martin, aged 34, his daughter. It is understood that a payroll amounting to £.170 for the employees of the mine of which Mr. Martin was manager was in the house. The fire occurred at about 3.30 o’clock this morning and was fanned by a high wind. A neighbour saw flames coming from the house and gave the alarm. A son, Mr. Allen Martin, was summoned from his house a mile away. The house was practically destroyed when help arrived, only parts of the washhouse and bathroom being left. The house contained six rooms and it was possible for Mr. Allen Martin to explain in which room the victims were sleeping. Nothing could be done to stop the fire, since there was no water available. It was some hours before the flames‘subsided to allow an investigation to be made. When it was possible to approach the building, the bodies of the four people were found in different parts of the house. A sergeant of police. Mr. T. Matthews, and the coroner, Mr. C. H. Thomas, left early this morning for Hector. Dr. Simpson carried out an examination but the bodies were so badly burnt as to be unrecognizable. They were taken to the church. An inquest was opened for identification purposes. Evidence as to the exact location of the sleeping, accommodation in the house was given by Allen Hibbert Martin, but it was impossible for him to distinguish between the bodies. The inquest was adjourned sine die. No reason has been advanced as to the cause of the fire, though it is considered that it must have had a good bold before it was discovered.