TRAGEDY AT FIRE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 106, 5 April 1926, Page 8

TRAGEDY AT FIRE

MAN BURNED TO DEATH. AFTER SAVING ANOTHER . OCCUPANT. BOARDINGHOUSE DESTROYED. Per Press Association. TAUAIARUNUI, April 5. Albert Edward Robinson, aged 45, a single man, a mill hand, whose parents reside in Auckland, lost his life at an early hour this morning in a fire which occurred in Rowan’s boardinghouse at Mananui The baordinghouso, which was a largo two-storey building, was well ablaze when the occupants, AirsRowan and three boarders, Messrs Robinson, It. Smith and W. Simpson, first became aware of the fire at 2.30 o’clock this morning. Airs Rowan was sleeping upstairs and the three boarders downstairs. Two of . the boarders, Messrs Robinson and Smith, rushed upstairs 'to get Mrs Rowan out. Robinson, had her outside of tne bedroom when Smith arrived. Smith then took her on to the balcony and called out for a ladder, which Simpson . eventually brought, and Airs Rowan, who was then in a state of collapse, was carried to safety. 1 In the meantime it appears that Robinson dashed downstairs and ' was overcomo by smoko, for his charred remains were found this morning at the door of his bedroom, which is a front room downstairs, and only a yard or two ,from the entrance.

The origin of- the fire is unknown. The brigade arrived on the scene as soon as the .alarm was given, but Foreman R. Price stated that they then had no chance of saving anything as the whole house was a blazing inferno. The occupants saved nothing, Airs Rowan escaping in her nightdress, and Smith and Simpson in their trousers and shirts. The insurances are not available.

Air Rowan, the owner of the house, was away in Auckland when the fire occurred.