FIRE TRAGEDY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25672, 21 October 1944, Page 6

FIRE TRAGEDY

HOUSE DESTROYED 5 FOUR MEMBERS OF FAMILY PERISH (PA.) WESTPORT, Oct. 20. When the house of Mr Elias Martin, of Hector, 23 miles from Westport, was destroyed by fire at 3.30 this morning all the four occupants lost their lives. The victims were: Elias Martin, aged 62.

Mrs Mona Mary Martin, aged 62. Reginald Wilfred Martin, aged 31, a son, an electrician, employed by the Westport-Stockton Company. Esme Mona Martin, aged 34, a daughter, a dressmaker. Mr Martin, who was the manager of the Hydro Coal Company’s mine, had previously suffered the loss of a son. It is understood that a payroll amounting to £l7O for the employees of the mine, of which Mr Martin was the manager, was in the house. The fire was fanned by a high wind. A neighbour saw the flames coming from the house and gave the alarm, and a son, Mr Allen Martin, was summoned from his house a mile away.

The house, which contained six rooms, was practically destroyed by the time help arrived, only parts of the washhouse and bathroom being left. Nothing could be done to stop the fire, as no water was available. It was some hours before the flames subsided to allow an investigation to be made. The remains of Mr and Mrs Martin, sen., were found in a bedroom on the south-east corner of the house. Mrs Martin was lying on a wire mattress. The remains of the daughter were found in a bedroom adjoining on the south-west corner of the house, while the son was found in the middle of the house. He was lying on the wire mattress of his bed. No reason has been advanced as to the cause of the fire. It appears that the occupants were quickly overcome by smoke and burned to death.