TRAGIC FIRE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26216, 29 July 1946, Page 4

TRAGIC FIRE

SEVENJPERISH MOTHER AND CHILDREN FATHER’S DESPERATE RESCUE EFFORTS BEATEN BACK BY FLAMES (P.A.) ’ AUCKLAND, July 28. A tragic fire occurred at Taumangi, three miles north of Putaruru, shortly after 5 o’clock this morning when a mother and six children were burnt to death.

The victims of the tragedy were:— Mrs Rona Gasson, aged 26, the wife of Roy Gasson, a bush contractor, of Taumangi.*

Phiona Gasson, aged nine. John Gasson, aged seven. Brett Gasson, aged five. Desmond Gasson, aged four. Gilbert Gasson, aged two. Thelma Gasson, aged nine months.

Mr Gasson and his wife and family occupied a four-roomed, wooden cottage owned by Mr G. D. Mcßae, of Taumangi. About 5 o’clock this morning Mr Gasson woke to find the roof of the cottage on fire. The bedroom occupied by himself and his wife and an infant was enveloped in flames. Mr Gasson called to his wife, telling her to get the baby, while he got out of the window and rushed round to the back of the house where the other four children were sleeping in a back room. He thought his wife would follow. When he got to the back of the house he managed to get into the kitchen, only to find the entrance to the children’s bedroom blocked by flames. Using an axe, he tried to knock down a sealed door leading into the bedroom, but was driven back by the flames. He then tried the kitchen window, but again his entry was blocked. Mr Gasson then started looking for and found had not followed him through the window. The fire had such a firm hold that he was unable to enter the room again so he rushed to a neightbour’s house for assistance. Mr Gasson suffered severely from shock, and requires medical attention. The cottage and its contents were a total loss.