Horrible Fire Tragedy.

Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 111, 13 May 1885, Page 2

Horrible Fire Tragedy.

ONE CHILD BUENT TO DEATH. ANOTHER NEAELY DEAD. [Bt Telegraph ] ( united prcsb association.] Curistchuucu, 12th May. A sad ocourrenoo happened at Shirley, throe and a half rnilos from Christohuroh, this afternoon. Tho information to hand ii to tho effect that a labourer named Briggs and Mb wife, loft tho two-roomed oottago they ooonpiod about 10 a.m. Their tlirto ohildron (the oldest a boy aged four yoars and throe months) remained bohind. The door was latched bat not looked, and a uoal flro was left burning in the grate. Mra. Briggi teturnnd at 2 p.m. On entoriDg tho homo she found it full of smoke. On tho floor lay the eldest child, dead, his body oharrcd almost to a cinder, while boside him lay tho youngest child, a boy of 11 months old, burnt severely about the lower part of tho body. Tho third ohild, two yoars old, was standing in a corner of tho room. Mir. Briggs screamed for assistance, and Mr. B. P. Hall, who lives closo by, oamo, and, after rendering what holp he oould, rode off and fetobod Dr. Townsend, by whose advico tho infant was removed to the Hospital, where he lies in a precarious stato. A holo a foot in diameter was burnt in the floor where the body of the ohild was lying, and a smaller hole was near. It is supposed that his clothes oaught fire at the grate, and that he rolled about the room till ho died. Dooe&scd was named James Joel Briggi.