A FATAL FIRE.

Evening Star, Issue 5590, 7 February 1881, Page 2

A FATAL FIRE.

AUCKLAND, February 6. A fire attended withtfatal reauft*s occurred at Newtoa at ten o'clock last night, a house ocoupied by Charles Whittington, a driver, being destroyed, and his Ihreo childrenHerbert Christopher Whittington, Sarah Olive Whittington, and Milly Whittington, severally aged six years, three years, and ten months—burnt to death, J£ra Whittington put the children to bed early In the evening, and went to town, her husband remaining in the house. He left the building about an hour later to meet his wife, On their return, and when near the house, they experienced a strong smell of fire. Mr Whittington ran to the housr, and discovered the baok portion to be on fire. He gained admission, but was unable to reaoh the ohildren. The fire by this time had a firm hold, and all efforts to reecue the ohildren were unavailing. Great excitement prevailed when it was known that the ohildren were in the burning building. Whittington states that everything was safe when he left, that there woro no lights, but a few sticks of wood were burning in the kitchen fireplace. It is not known how the fire originated, but it is thought it must have been caused by the fire In the kitohen. The remains of the children were found at midnight; the boy was not muob burnt, but only the of the eldest girl was found, and nearly all traces of the infant were destroyed. Whittington saved nothing, and, being uninsured, 1b a heavy losor. The building, which was totally oonsumed, was owned By Mr Sutherland, and it is not known if It was Insured. FEBRU4BY 7. The Inquest revealed nothing fresh. A verdict of " Accidentally burned to death" was relumed; and the jury added a rider calling on the Corporation to ereot the fireball, whioh has been lying on the ground, near the station, for many months,