NIGHT-LONG FIGHT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19900, 30 March 1939, Page 6

NIGHT-LONG FIGHT

SETTLER SAVES HOME VALLEY SWEPT BY FIRE RESCUE GIF FAMILY HEAVY STOCK LOSSES (Pur Pros* Association.) NELSON, this day. The fire which swept the Canaan Valley on Tuesday night covered a large area of bush and grass land. Ihe homestead of Mr. E. Sixtus was destroyed and all the buildings, including stable, sheds, haystacks were razed on Mr. Sixtus' properly. When the lire took charge in the valley, a farm employee managed to get out for help. When in an exhausted condition he fortunately- met Messrs. D. Trewavas and R. . Kerr who were engaged in carting firewood. The two men made a hazardous journey through the bush in constant danger ol falling trees and reached the home of Mr. J. Sixtus where they found Mrs. Sixtus and the family whom they helped to safety. Mr. Sixtus had left the house in order to try to drive the sheep out of the valley and anxiety was felt for his safety. Later, Messrs. Kerr and Trewavas returned to the valley. A survey of the fire area led them to the belief that Mr. J. Sixtus' home must have been destroyed. Thereupon, they commenced a search for the owner. Returning down the smoke-covered valley, the men found Mr. Sixtus after midnight at his house in an exhausted condition following a long single-handed fight to save the building. Mr. Sixtus had given up hope of saving his sheep and, when he returned to his home he found his wife and children gone. While he fought the lire his mind was tortured concerning the fate of his family.

Mr. Sixtus told an exciting story- of how he dug a hole in the ground to enable him lo get air. Taking a deep breath, he would then rush with a bucket of water from the creek to the house. One shed contained gelignite which exploded blowing the building to atoms. The explosion was heard from the main road about eight miles away. Mr. Sixtus was slightly injured bv a piece of flying metal. Both Messrs. J. ant? E. Sixtus are heavy losers. The five originated from burning being carried out by Mr. J. Sixtus during the day-.