FATAL FIRE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2883, 23 June 1909, Page 3

FATAL FIRE.

LADY BURNED TO DEATH.

HASTINGS, June 16.

The police ,have received word that thfl ' schoolhouse afc- Porangahau was burned to the ground at midnight, and that the schoolmaster's wife was burned to death. Mrs Robson was abCut 25 years of age. It appears that Mrs Robson, feeling tired, retired to bed, and her husband said lva would go and do some work in his workshop, situated about 40yds to the rear of the dwelling. Shortly afterwards the inmates of the Porangahau Hotel saw thr house in flames, and gave the alarm. M* Robson was then unaware of the fire. Th« house was burning furiously, and a man named Sutton rushed to the front window, and was just in time to rescue th< boy, who is about three years of age, and the only child of the deceased. To entei ! the building was impossible. The room I occupied by Mi' 6 Robson was in the front I of the house, and it was in that room that 1 the fire originated. It is surmised that the fire was caused by a lighted candle -coming into contact with the window cur- \ tains, and that Mrs Robson, who was in ! a delicate state of health, fainted before she was able to give the alarm. Deceased ! was a sister of Miss ■ Driscoll, postonisLress at Havelock North.