FATAL FIRE AT PORT CHALMERS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8858, 8 July 1907, Page 2

FATAL FIRE AT PORT CHALMERS.

Press Association,

DfiilEniN, July 7.

A fatal fire occurred at Port Chalmers this morning. C instable Smart noticed flaiflas issuing from-a two-storied wooden house and on hurrying t° the scene found a youpg man named William AberfioJd and his slster-lnrlaw, Hine Meliu, lying on the footpath severely burnt and injured. It appears that the inmates were awakened by noise of fire and Aberfleld rushed to the front window overlooking the street telling his wife to throw a four-year-old child into his arms after he jumped down. He jumped about 15 |eej;, * ap'd finding his Vifp' did not appear, climbed back through the window ppd searched for thorn, hut wjjs driven back fiy the flames and smoke before he could reach them. He, however, stumbled over his wife’s sister eleven years old wliQ \yfts crouching' In a earner of the roam, He picked her up and dropped her from a window on to the pavement and jumped out again himself. D-' ”'" ne was quickly the scene and attended to the sufferers. Aberfleld was badly burned, and also sustained severe scalp wounds and lacerations from the broken window panes. Hine Eehu was so shockingly burned as to be almost beyond hope of recovery and both were sent to the Hospital. After the fire was got under the bpdip.3 of Mrs Aberfleld and child wore discovered among the debris. Aberfleld had oply been in Port Chalmers about four weeks, and was employed at the new deck, Jlis parents reside at Greenhills near the Bluff. Mrs Aberfleld only came to Port Chalmers a couple of weeks ago to join her husband, and her little sister was staying with her on a visit. The house belonged to John Watson, and was insured, hut the amount is not yet ascertUiiWhlp.

July 8. Kathleen Rehu, aged 11, died in the hospital last night after great siiffering from burns, making three lives lost as the result of the Port Chalmers lire. William Haborfield is 37 years old. His grandfather arrived in the Moeraki in 1836 and married a Maori woman. He was a respectable hard-working man, devoted to his wife and family. Mrs Haberfield had been married before. The child burnt with her yesterday was the youngest child by her first husband. Haherfield’s condition is' not serious.