Fatal Fire at Waipawa

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 116, 1 May 1888, Page 2

Fatal Fire at Waipawa

TWO MEN BURNED TO DEATH. NARROW ESCAPE OP SEVERAL OTHERS. [per united press association.! Nafieb, April 30. A dwelling-house and shop occupied by Mr Sheehan, at Waipawa, was totally destroyed by fare last night. The inmates were asleep at the time of the outbreak, but being aroused, Sheehan and his wife, infant, and servant escaped through the windows, being badly out and bruised in their exit. Two lodgers in the house, who it was thought bad escaped, were burnt to death, their charred remains being discovered in the ruins. The buildings, including a stable and bakehouse, which were totally destroyed, were insured in the South British for £500. Later. Sheehan and his family slept on the ground floor. They escaped in their night-clothes, leaving nearly £80 in money in a chest of drawers. Upstairs were two boarders named Odium and Finlayson, the latter a tailor aad the former (who was an Auckland native): a labouring man. Both were fine' young fellows and men of splendid "physique, and both were burned to death in their beds. It was evident, from the position of the bodies whoa taken from the debris that they had mever wakened or moved from their beds. In the next room to the unfortunate young fellows a man named Cooney slept, and in the next room his sister. Cooney was wakened by the stifling sensation occasioned by the smoke, and rolled out of bed. He made for his bedroom door, but the smoke and flames beat him back. He then staggered across the. robin and fell upon his bed, and had given himself up for lost, when in swinging his arms about while suffocating, his left hand struck and smashed a window-pane. He made one spring and burst right through the window, outting himself : badly. He : ", landed on the verandah, and from there rolled on to the ground. At the same moment almost his sister was seen leaping through her bedroom window, and from the : verandah she jumped to the. ground. Thus all were saved with the? exception of Odium and Finlayson, and their charred remain's how' await the inquest. The town » quite depressed over the dreadful affair. The newly-formed Fire Brigade did their best; under very disadvantagepus.circumstanoes, as there was no water available. The insurances are hot yet known, but it is believed Sheehan was insured for £600 in the .South British. - . - ! ;