FIRE AT LYTTELTON

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12551, 12 July 1901, Page 5

FIRE AT LYTTELTON

. : «, THREE CHILDREN BURNED TO DEATH. ■ Yesterday afternoon-a four-roomed cottage in Little Brenchley Road, Lyttelton, was burned, and three children -.est theirlives. The cottage belonged to 'hie Hargreaves Estate, and was occupied by a lumper named Frederick Day. He was at- work, and his wife ihad gone out, leaving the children, a boy named Frederick Thomas, four years, a girl*,Evelyn May, five years and eight months, .and a girl, Dorothy Maud, -two years and se-veu> months,.in the house, with a fire "burning in'a front r00m.,. About 1.15 p.m. Mr Alfred Day, a brother of _ the occupant, while returning from rabbit shooting on the hills, saw smoke rising from the' cottage. Running to Mr A. Chalmers's place near by, he get the assistance of Mr .Chalmers, jun., but the flames within prevented rescue. The firebell rang at 1.20, but the Brigade could do nothing, and the cottage was burned to -tho ground. Tho fire is supposed to have been burning about twenty minutes .when discovered. . The bodies of the children were found in the debris. The boy and the younger girl were on the site of the sitting-room.-The former was on the floor, with a pillow over his head, and the latter on the remains of 'the couch, with iier head under the pillow. The elder girl's body was in the kitchen. All the wodies were lying face downwards, and all were charred be- ! yond recognition. The building was insured in the Royal Office for £IOU. .The furniture, which was all destroyed, was uninsured. The house was'an old one, and was situated a-considerable distance from the Fire Brigade' Station, being about a mile from the post office, up 'the nils. The Davs had occupied it for about five months. To show what, a hold the fire had when discovered, it-array be mentioned that though Mi- Alfred Day, who first saw it, was near enough to hear as he thought-, the cry of one of the children, and ran down .to the pottage as quickly as he could bv the time he reached it the kitchen-had Sen in. He attempted to Oirust open the front door, but- could not. Then it was that he went for help to Mr Chalmers ifco but by that time.all chance of rescue lad 4a scd. The Brigade were prompt in tiirrns out, but as the alarm was given SS, *** cod*, of course, avail n l)mfoi the children,. the youngest girl waT siek with whoopmg cough and i mothers xo $ mot3ier motn-S-way home, >rhen someone told Lr that her house' was on fire &*. SFved on the scene when the chddren bodies were taken out, and was in a stat, bordering on distraction. The father lef, hLSoik ob hearing of the fare, and on J ! iTup met the cart which was conS!y!?th? bodies of his children to the m MrTDay afterwards stated that Ao left heme about, a quarter to eleven m the mornin*, to make some purchases in the town °She -left -the children in the house, but no matches within their reach, ■and there was a fender ,n front of the fire She dosed' the back door, but aid cot lock it. Tbe front door was locked. Tho father and mother are themselves < the children-of Lyttelton residents, and. are comparatively young,people The eldest little gilt was a pupil of the Lyttelton Borough School, and on her death becoming known t-ne school flag was hoisted at half-mast.

An inquest on the bodies is to be held »i. the MJ>e Hotel at 10.30 a.B\ to-^y.