GHASTLY FIRE TRAGEDY

Evening Star, Issue 22274, 27 February 1936, Page 10

GHASTLY FIRE TRAGEDY

FAMILY OF FOUR DEAD CHARRED REMAINS FOUND AFFAIR SHROUDED IN MYSTERY (From Our Correspondent.] OAMARU, February 27. The gold-mining district of Maercwheinia, situated about 10 miles from Duntroon, in the county of Waitaki, and about 35 miles from Oamaru, was the scene of a shocking tragedy yesterday morning when it was discovered fclia.fi four persons (husband and wile and their two young children) had lost their lives in a fire which resulted in a large five-roomed wooden building being reduced to ashes, in circumstances which at present are shrouded in mystery. The names of those who perished in the conflagration are : Douglas Arthur Nolan, aged 30. Anne Nolan, aged 29, wife of Douglas Nolan. Patrick Linden Nolan, aged 7. Anthony Nolan, aged 12 months. The first indication of anything untoward was about 10 a.m.. when a young man named Charles Adams, who was working on a neighbouring farm about three miles distant, noticed smoke billowing up from tho residence occupied by the Nolan family. He realised that the house must be afire and immediately rushed off to get assistance. In company with another man named Jack Barnes ha hurried to the scene of the outbreak, to find the house burning fiercely. He realised at once that nothing could be saved, as the fire had obtained a hold in practically every room and had already accounted for the front of the building. There being no one in sight and hearing no cries, both men walked round the blazing house several times, calling out and endeavouring to ascertain if anyone was inside, but their efforts proved fruitless, and the boat became so intense that they had to keep well away. The building was of wood, and with a light north-east wind blowing, the fire swept from room to room with amazing rapidity, so that within a short space of time the whole building had been reduced to a mass of smouldering ruins. The house was connected by telephone, but no ring was received at the nearest bureau, situated three miles away, that morning, although the line was in working order. CHARRED REMAINS. Information regarding the tragedy was received by the constable stationed at Duntroon, and he immediately informed the Oamaru police. On receipt of information alleging that several persons had been burned to death in a disastrous firo near Duntroon, Sergeant M‘Gregor, accompanied by Constable M. Thyne, proceeded to the scene and immediately took charge. The ruins were still smoking, and that a tragedy had taken place was soon revealed when two bodies, charred beyond recognition, were seen lying about two yards apkrt. The first body was resting on tjie remains of a double spring mattress, and from the size of the remains it was presumed to be the husband, Douglas Nolan. The other body was lying on what had been the floor, about a yard and a-half from the door, and it was thought to be the remains of Mrs Nolan. Further investigation resulted in the finding of the remains of another body near where an adjacent bedroom to the one occupied by Mr ,and Mrs Nolan had been, and a few fragments of bone ash in the wire framing of a cot in what had been the sitting room are presumed to be the remains of the baby. " ... A .22 rifle barrel was found just inside the door of Mr and Mrs Nolan’s bedroom, and an empty cartridge case was found on the ground about three yards from the main entrance. Owing to the intense heat and the lack of sufficient water further investigation was impossible just then. Mystery still surrounds the Nolan holocaust. Tho house was situated on a hilltop approximately 1,500 feet above sea level—the country is high in this locality—and the nearest neighbour resides three miles away. To approach tho place a long climb is necessary up, a winding, tortuous road, so tluit the Nolan family were practically isolated in so far as road and track communication was concerned. The oldest boy had been attending school; and on Tuesday everything appeared all right. The four were in good health, while the husband, who was engaged in droving and general farm work, was working full time—and had been for some time—and bad received a. further fortnight’s , work at Mr L. Wright’s runhold near Tokarahi, to which position he was to have gone yesterday morning. Off Tuesday evening about 7 o’clock Mr Nolan called in to see Mr James Hore, his fathcr-in-law, who-lives about five miles away, and left for home about 7.45 after having informed the household that everything was all right and that all were in good health. Nothing further was heard at seen by the Hores until about Iff,SO next morning, when Arthur Hore, ft brother of Mrs Nolan, noticed smoke pouring from bis sister’s residence, and later saw flames belching through the roof in many parts. Another resident, about a mile "farther on also noticed the fire about this time.

WELL KNOWN AND RESPECTED. Nows of the iwgedy soon spread to all parts of the countryside, and cast a gloom over all, as the Nolans were well known in that part of the country and were highly respected. Mrs Nolan in particular was held in very high esteem as she was a member of one of the oldest families in the district, and was known to all and sundry for her kindness. Although the husband did ordinary farm work, they were not in poor circumstances, and this is exemplified by the fact that they lived rout free, the house belonging to Mr J. Simpson, who was a close friend of Mr Nolan, the latter often doing odd jobs for him.in payment for the use of the residence and the ground adjoining. • NO FURTHER LIGHT. The tragedy is one of the worst in the history of North Otago, and although the matter was investigated yesterday afternoon until dark no further light was thrown on the circumstances causing the oubreak and the obliteration of a family of four. So far the remains have not been identified as they were much too hot to remove yesterday, and owing to their extremely charred condition it will require a professional man to identify the sex. A feature of live outbreak is that

no one noticed the fire until 10 o’clock in the morning when it was seen almost simultaneously by at least four persons who were occupied in farm work in different parts of 'the surrounding countryside covering a distance of some six' miles. At first it was thought that Mr and Mrs Nolan had gone for assistance to quell the fire and that the elder boy was attending school ■ but this surmise was soon proved to be wrong when it was ascer-. tamed that Patrick had not gone to school that morning, and that the parents were nowhere to be found. Among other things found in the debris *was a candlestick resting on. a tin trunk alongside the double bed on which some skeletal remains were found. The house was not connected up with electricity, and candles were used for illumination at night. An inquest was opened before the district coroner (Mr AV. H. Frith) today, and was adjourned sme die.