FATAL FIRE AT BALCLUTHA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13652, 23 July 1906, Page 2 (Supplement)

FATAL FIRE AT BALCLUTHA.

A small four-roomed house, llie property of Thomas Gav.-n, wns burned down at Balcluiha at 3 o'clock on Saturday. July 14. The' place w.i? wwiplod by a. woman named Vary Yariey. a't-n known as Jenkins, who is about 60 years of ago, and she perished in the flam/;.;. AKxamlcr Noble, an onpinodriver, was the firsf. to notice the fire, and »vhon lia reached the building the lire wne all through it, ;m<! it was no! possible in go inside. He called flip neighbours, and Mr Gawii, v.lio lived next door,'.hut nothing could ho done to save the place. As the woman was nowhere fo lie found, as soon ■as tho fire abated March was made among the debris, and hot' remains were discovered quite close to die front door. The hotly was face downwards, and had evidently l»nn fnily clothed at the time death occurred. Both foot were burned off, and one hand and arm nearly gone, the rest of tho hotly being charred beyond recognition. When last seen the unfortunate woman was under the influenca of liquor, hut could wa-ik. She bad boon away in the train, presumably at, Milton, am! had probably brought ,1 bottle of liquor homo with her. It appears very probable that deceased, who was at, lime* addicted to taking too imioh Honor, accidentally pet firo to tho nlace. end was overcome by the fumes of the smoke .before she could get out. Jenkins, who «] an old-age pensioner, was away from home at tho time at Romahapa. Tho building was insured in the Alliance office, but for how much is not known.