Fatal Fire Catastrophe.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2902, 17 January 1911, Page 4

Fatal Fire Catastrophe.

OLD SHOTOVER RESIDENT AND CHILDREN BURNT TO DEATH.

A most lamentable fatal fire occurred at Menzies Ferry, Wyndham, on Friday morning last, whereby Edgar Sainsbury, formerly of Skippers, dairy farmer, and his two children (John Douglas, aged 4, and Mary Ellen, 18 months), lost their lives.

The particulars taken from the 'S. Times' are somewhat as follow :—Mr and Mrs Sainsbury, in accordance with their daily routine, rose at 5.30 aud proceeded to the milking shed, quite close to the residence, for the purpose of milking their herd. The milking machine was sot going, and the operation of milking was proceeding. Ramsay Summers, aged 10 years, nephew of Mrs Sainsbury, remained in the house a few minutes to light the fire, a duty he had regularly carried out. After doing so on this occasion ho joined Mr and Mrs Sainsbury at the milking shed. The two young children were asleep in the house—the boy in the parents' bed, and the girl in a perambulator near to a window in the same room. The sound of the dog barking caused Mrs Sainsbury to remark that there must be someone approaching, and the boy Summers looked out, when he gave the alarming information that the house was on tire. The parents rushed to the house, the husband being bent on saving his children from the flames, which had a strong hold. He ontered the kitchen door, and must at once have become overpowered by the smoke and the flames, for he could not have reached the children's room. The mother ran to the window against which stood the perambulator in which she had left her little girl. She broke the panes of glass, and was at once met with a volume of flame which scorched her face and drove her back. The place was quickly a mass of flame which it was impossible to enter, and it was death to anything that'was within. The distracted woman, knowing that she had lost her offspring, soon learned also that she had lost her husband All that Mrs Sainsbury could do was to watch the flames accomplish their cruel work. Her cries for help were heard for miles—as far away, indeed, as South Wyndham. Messrs William Wilson, Robert Gibb and Neil Ross (residents at the Ferry) hastened *.o the scene and rendered all the assistance in their power. When the tire had abated sufficiently, search was made for the bodies among the ruins. Sainsbury's was found near where he had entered, as if he had fallen on his back. Little but the trunk of the body remained, and the children were more charred.

Mrs Sainsbury was taken to the home of her neircst neighbour, Mr H. C. Christie, whither many sympathising friends quickly repaired to bestow all the kindness they could upon one who had at one swift stroke of misfortune been bereft of all most dear to her.

Mr anil Mrs Sninsbury are natives of the-Wakatipu district—he the son of Mr Egbert Sainsbury, a well-known Skippers miner, and she the daughter of the late Mr James Hamilton, of Arrowtown (a brother of the well-known former member of the Southland County Council) and deceased's mother lives at the One-Mile Queenstown. Sainsbiiry wat a comparatively young man, being but 35 years of age. He was a blacksmith by trade and undertook carrying to Skippers while in this district. He afterwards went to Alexandra and finally obtained a section

when Edendale Settlement land was opened. He proved a most industrious farmer, and was on the high road to success, as shown by the fine state of cultivation of bis land and the excellence of his dairy herd. It is needless to say that there is great sympathy for Mr Sainsbury in her sore affliction ; and it may be said that she is bearing her trial with great courage. The burial of the father and children took place at 2 o'clock on Sunday, at the Wyndham Cemetery.