Fire Completely Destroys Pensioner’s House at Barrytown

Grey River Argus, 24 March 1947, Page 4

Fire Completely Destroys Pensioner’s House at Barrytown

The residence of Mr T. Frickleton, at Golden Sands, Barrytown, was completely gutted by fire at 2.30 o’clock on Saturday morning last. Fanned by a strong-easterly breeze, the flames enveloped the structure before any assisance could be rendered, and not a particle of Mr Frickieton's property escaped the blaze.

The house was a three-roomed dwelling in which Mr Frickleton had lived on his own for the past six month. A brother of the V.C. winner of Blackball, Mr Frickleton is a pensioner and an invalid, and has been suffering from ill health for some considerable time.

On the morning of Friday, March 21, he went to Greymouth to visit his doctor. He had lit the fire that morning, and he believes that there must have been a fault in the stove, and that the wooden floor beneath it smouldered through the day and night, breaking into a blaze at about 2.30 on Saturday morning. He was awakened by the smell of smoke, and although he attembpted to save some of his belongings, he was unsuccessful. While trying to retrieve some clothes from the blaze he suffered severe burns to one of his hands, necessitating immediate medical attention.

Residents of Barrytown and the surrounding districts, have taken up a collection to aid Mr Frickleton, who is at present living with a neighbour, Mr W. 'Walker.

Mr Frickieton’s family is wellknown and respected in Blackball, there having been seven sons away at World War I. He is 52 years of age.