THE FIEE TRAGEDY

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 123, 26 May 1928, Page 10

THE FIEE TRAGEDY

» NO CLUE AS TO CAUSE (By Telegraph.—Press* Association.) HAWEEA, This Day. No additional facts havo been obtained concerning the tragedy which overwhelmed the Woller family early yesterday morning in their lonely cottage at Ararata. The bodies of the victims were brought to town during the day, the funeral taking place this afternoon. The cause of the fire is unknown. It is difficult to explain the position of the father's body in the kitchen, unless, as suggested, he got up to make a cup of tea, as was his custom. The kitchen stove was encased'by an iron chimney. This, and the kerosene lamp, seem the only likely sources" of the outbreak, but all is a matter of conjecture. Mrs. Wollor, mother of five of the children who perished, has been coming to Hawera periodically for a considerable time for medical treatment. She suffered from a nervous affection of the left arm, induced by milking in the dairy shed helping her husband.- It was owing to this trouble that a boy had to bo employed to help on the farm. Mrs. Woller usually brought only the baby with her, but this week she had the next child also as it needed treatment. But for that fact the firo might have claimed another victim. ' Kccently Mr. Woller made a remarkable recovery from a serious illness, and was just starting to make headway, milkiiig a small herd for his brother.