BURNED TO DEATH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21874, 9 August 1934, Page 10

BURNED TO DEATH

FARMER AND WIFE ESCAPE OF DAUGHTERS HOMESTEAD DESTROYED RAPID SPREAD OF FLAMES TRAGEDY AT KAIPAKI [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON. Wednesday A well-known farmer and his wife were burned to death and their three youngest daughters had a-narrow escape from a similar tragic fate when their home at Kaipaki, four miles from Ohaupo, was completely destroyed by fire about 3.30 this morning. The three girls escaped in their night attire, after vain efforts to awaken their parents, who occupied the front room. The dead are: — Mr. Frank Jary, aged 52, farmer, and chairman of the Rotomanuka Drainage Board. Mrs. Agnes Jary, aged about 48, his wife.

Tho three daughters, Nellie, aged 20, Norbry Eileen, aged 17, and Leila Gladys, aged eight, were uninjured, although they all suffered considerably from shock. The youngest girl, who has been in bed with a cold for some days, was showing the effects of her exposure to the night air this afternoon, and, with her sisters, was being cared for by neighbours. Miss Nellie Jary and her youngest sister were both wearing borrowed clothes to-day, all their own having been lost. Miss Norbry Jary managed to snatch up a few clothes as she rushed from the burning house. Girls Out Just in Time A graphic account of the fire and of the escape of the three sisters was given by Miss Nellie Jary. She said she was awakened by a noise, apparently of something falling, about 3.30 this morning, and found her bedclothes were on fire and one wall of her room was ablaze. » "I awakened my sister Leila, who was sleeping in the same bed, and got her out through the window," she said. ' fc 'l called out to my parents, who occupied the next bedroom, but got no response, and had to get out through the window myself. I went round to thp back door and was met by my sister Norbry, who had heard me calling out. When I got outside the front of the house was all ablaze. I made an attempt to get into my parents' bedroom, but was unable to do so owing to the fire being so fierce." The three girls ran to a whare a short distance away from the house and roused Mr. Joseph Mann, who had been employed by Mr. Jary for 20 years. He took the girls to the home of a neighbour, Mr. Alfred Roberts, about 200 yds. away, and together with Mr. Roberts and Mr. William Davis, returned to the Jarv homestead. Cartridges Explode "The girls told me their home was burning and 'that their parents were inside," Mr. Roberts said. "Half-dressed, I rushed over to the homestead, but a glance showed that it was hopeless. The roof had fallen in over the front part of the house, including the bedroom where Mr. and Mrs. Jary had been sleeping, and the rest of the house was completely gutted inside. We thought we could see the bodies by the light of the flames, but the intense heat kept us back. "The roof fell in bit by bit as the fire ate its way through the house, from the front, where it had apparently started, to the back," he added. "When the fire reached the kitchen a couple of boxes of cartridges began to explode, making it extremely hazardous to approach too closely. Finally the hot water boiler exploded." At daylight, the smouldering ruins presented a sorry spectacle. All that remained of the large six-roomed farmhouse and its contents was a heap of ashes and twisted roofing iron. The three chimneys alone remained standing. Overcome by Smoke

Constable Forsyth, of Te Awamutu. was summoned, and he arrived about 5 a.m. It was impossible to recover the two bodies until later in the morning, on account of the heat of the roofingiron and ashes. Eventually, when the fire had almost burned itself out, the bodies were recovered. They were burned beyond recognition. The fact that the bodies were still lying on the remains of the burned mattress is taken as an indication that Mr. and Mrs. Jary were overcome by the smoke in their sleep, and were senseless before the fire reached them. As far as could be judged, neither had made any attempt to move. The remains were placed in the one coffin, and conveyed to Te Awamutu to await burial M The intensity of the flames at the height of the fire was apparent to-day. A large patch of the lawn in front of the house was burned completely away, while trees growing near were brown and withered. Tho sheds and farm buildings aro some distance away, and were not affected.

An inquest was later opened before the district coroner, Mr. G. A. Erapson, J.P. Evidence was given by the two eldest daughters who had escaped from the fire, Mr. Roberts and Mr. Mann. The inquiry was then adjourned sine die. Well-known Resident Born in Norfolk, England, Mr. Jary came to New Zealand about 28 years ago. In 1908 he was married at Palmerston North to Miss Agnes Maxwell, a daughter of Mr. William Maxwell, a well-known farmer of Bunnythorpe. Both Mr. and Mrs. Jary were well known and highly respected in the district, where they had lived for 19 years. Mr. Herbert Jary, of Claudelands, is a brother of the late Mr. Jary. There are four daughters surviving. In addition to the three who were in the house at the time, there is Mrs. L. Cowley, also of Kaipaki, who was married only a few weeks ago. The oldest daughter, Miss Enid Jarv, was killed Some years, ago. She was driving a tractor on her father's 600-acro farm when it overturned and crushed her. The origin of the fire is unknown. The outbreak is believed to have commenced in Mr. and Mrs. Jary's bedroorn. The house was insured for £7OO in the Queensland office. It is not known whether the contents were covered by insurance.