SEVEN DEAD

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 July 1946, Page 6

SEVEN DEAD

COTTAGE FIRE TRAGEDY

MOTHER AND SIX CHILDREN , : PERISH IN FLAMES'

FATHER’S RESCUE ENDEAVOUR (P.A.) AUCKLAND, July 28. A tragic fire occurred at Tau-

mangi, three miles north of Putaruru, shortly after 5 o’clock this morning, when a mother and her six children were burnt to death. The victims were:— Mrs. Rona Gasson, aged 26, wife ol Mr. Roy .Gassen, bush contractor, of Taumangi. Phiona Gasson, ag.’d nine. John Gasson, aged seven. Brett Gasson, aged five. Desmond Gasson, aged four. Gilbert Gasson, .aged two. Thelma Gasson, aged nine months.

'Mr. Gasson and his wife and family occupied a four-roomed wooden cottage owned by Mr. G. D. Mcßae, of Taumangi. About 5 o’clock this morning Mr. Gasson awoke to find the roof of the cottage on fire and the bedroom occupied by himself, his wile, and infant child enveloped in flames. He called to his wife, telling her to get the baby while he got out of the window and rushed round to the back of the house, where the other children wore sleeping in a back room.

When Mr. Gasson got to the back of the house he managed to get into the kitchen, only to find the entrance to the children’s bedroom blocked by flames. Using an oxo, lie tried Io knock down a sealed door, leading into the bedroom, but was driven ‘back by the flames. He then tried the kitchen window, but again his entry was blocked. Mr. Gascon then started looking for his wife and found she had nor followed him through the window.

The fire had such a firm hold that he was unable to enter the room again, so he rushed to a neighbour’s house for assistance.

Mr. Gasson suffered severely from shock and required medical attention.

The cottage and its contents were a total loss.