NARROW ESCAPE OF CHILDREN FROM FIRE.

Patea Mail, Volume I, Issue 51, 6 October 1875, Page 2

NARROW ESCAPE OF CHILDREN FROM FIRE.

(l-’R.OM- THIS TARREKGOWEK TIMES.)

.-.The most miraculous escape from a serious conflagration and sacrifice of human life that perhaps was over heard of occurred on Saturday night last, t the residence of Mr T. Peard, adjoining thpdMaldon Reservoir. On the night in question,, Mrs Peard, had occasion to leave homo for a short time to do some' shopping, leaving in the house two little girls, aged about two and a-lialf, and six

six years. These were sleeping in a cot iu a room by them solves. In the parlor, an infant, 10 months old, slept iu a wicker cradle under the table, and in a room, semi-detached, were two boys, the eldest about 11 years. When Mrs Peard left home, the lamp was turned down and every tiling in the house had an appearance, of safety. The mother could not have, left home very long, when Mrs Patterson, the next neighbour, heard a' sound of stamping, followed by a childish shrieking. This occurred, as near as- possible, about a quarter to 9 o’clock. The stamping and shrieking continuing - , Mrs Patterson went up to Mr Pc ml’s house, were she met.the-little gii 1 of six .years of age at the threshold, nearly stifled with smoke, and ,at the same time a thick volume was issuing out of the .iloor. .Mrs Patterson, attempting- to enter the door, was driven back ; at the’ same time she saw sufficient to convince e her the place contained,, a smouldering fire, and at once raised an alarm. Happily the alarm was heard by Sergeant Greer, who happened to be on. duly in the guardroom at the camp, on the opposite side of the reserve, from Mr Peaid's, and without a moment’s hesitation the sergeant burr'e 1 - across, and was present just at tlio moment the fire began to blaze up. Hearing from Mrs Patterson that-the several children’ wore sleeping in the rooms, he made a rush into the house, but before ho could get to the 'children’s bed, the smoko ovc-rpowerd him,' and he’with some difficulty groped his way back to the door, and ran round the house, smashed in"a front window, and got out this way/ In the meantime Mrs Patterson worked bravely, assisted by'’Constable Kenny andyoungi Wilson, • in gectiiig ihtb ’the room on fire, and, after, some .exertion,, .they. managed to entirely snlxlue‘the flames. ‘ It was difficult to awaken The boys from their sound sleep, and, when they were' roused, their fright was pitiful. The poor lads scrambled out with what clothes they could pick up, and. made for the hill above the house. Up to this time the infant was not forthcoming, and, at Mrs Patterson’s instignation, Sergeant Greer

overhauled the parlor and children’s - Bedroom without meeting< with the little one, and it was-naturally concluded the Urtotlicr liadi^tiiken-The*-baby with her. Juftt a® all- parties bitgan'to breathe that • ail ; weres - safe; 'Sirs -Peatd came home,, and, in answer to eager inquiries as to the baby, she frantically ...replied that she left the ‘baji|' , sltc''j%ii|fln4]ie / cradle under thc'’tabk i '. i A thrill of sickening horror overcame every oner,~*as it was known the cradle, bedclothes, and all, were burnt to cinders. In flic midst ot, the sudden bewailing, moans were heard as coming from the parent’s bedroom, a rpom which had been undisturbed. On looking in .this., room, to the wonder of all, the baby was discovered lying under the bed, and found to be slightly burnt on ’ on©foot,.under one arm, and on the, back of the head... Here is a marvel ! 'The .cradle, that the child -was sleeping in, wjth lac bedci.oth.cs, and the table above, were-consnnied, and how could this puny : infant escape with such little injury to a place of safety ? This, and how .thejgre occurred, is a mystery. The only position is that a young 1 goat got shut In.the room, upset the cradle, and then the lamp. * . .It is. willlin .a’ year -that Mr-Patterson saved flic, Tittle one who gave the alarm from drowning in the Xlesomiir, and now, mainly through* the instrumentality of 'Mrs ‘Patterson,' the whole household ; .nd

dn'ldrc-n liavo been saved from-total do-