FATAL FIRE

Grey River Argus, 3 July 1944, Page 3

FATAL FIRE

BED-RIDDEN MAN THE VICTIM.

P.A. AUCKLAND, July 2. An elderly one-legged invalid lost his life when fire gutted a small wooden cottage at the centre ol Freeman’s Bay late on Saturday. He was Thomas Kelvin Robert Fowley, aged 69, a retired drover. . Rowley had been bed-ridden ever since he, lost his leg three years ago. He resided with his brother and his wite, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Powley, who rented the cottage. The building was a very old one. Deceased was alone in the house when the fire began. Mrs. Powley left to go on a small errand, and when she returned half an hour later, she found smoke billowing from the windows, and flames pouring from the back door. Neighbours had to forcibly restrain Mrs. Powley from entering the house in an attempt to extricate her brother-in-law, whom she had left in bed in his room just off the .kitchen.