FIRE AT KARANGAHAKE. Two Lives Lost.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 147, 27 March 1886, Page 8

FIRE AT KARANGAHAKE. Two Lives Lost.

On Saturday last a terrible fatality occuired at Karangahuke resulting in the death of two little children. About three o'cl >ck in the afternoon of the day mentioned Mrs .Richards, wife of the proprietor of a boarding-house started last year at Karangalunke, in the Jiew township laid off on the Mackytown si«le of the river, hud occasion to cr >ss the suspension bridge to Mr Hog^'is store, la\ ing two of her children, l»oth boys, aged trro years and three and a half years respectively, pl.iying a 1 out either inside, or at Lie door ot a MnUl building ai'out 12ft x 14ft, which h,id been ii.-ed as a sleeping 1 apartment^ and \ra- detached from the main biuhhi,: some loft. Trade having fallen off a'- | !mo^ tiitiiely f >r soni>> tune, it jippe.ix that .tir iiic'iiii ds (who was ab&eut ill i tll<» (i ). ' i>* t •' -,i ] >C"i ]>'>•' ) W t r MM j ing some alterations in trie arrangement*, of his house, an i a quantity of manngiauiungi was in the detached building, \vi \eh was to be used as a substitute For :ru i rasses. The deceased children v.eie ' ;• ibtt of tesoning to thi^ building _ • i.iy .'u and mubt nave snut tht-ra £. j es mi tnere alwnt the time the uiuci.er leit. slow tiie fi?'e was occasi(»r',«' a >iif can i^)!. lin: it is surmisen thai the poo-* Hitie fellow? imist in som ■ way have got hold of matcues and is>nitea gome of theiU) the result of widen it would be easy to predict. As far .s tve enn ascertain it wms a Mrs Goiss \rha lives exactly opposite on the weteiu bank of the river, first observed smoke issuing from the house, and raised the alarm. Messrs C !?. Brown an \ Colebrook^ who \rerv. working a few Jrards of?, quickly ran to the scene of fciie conflagration, and burst in the door, but so qirekly had the flames obtained hold of the whole of the interioi that they could render no as istunce towards rescuing the children (who were afterwards found at the furthest end of the room) although th^y attempted to do so, but ■were beaten back by the flames. In a few minutes a number of people had collected, i at were poweiless to do anything towards saving the little ones. The flames quickly demolished the whole •.ii'Muig and its contents, and the reun.:i? ')f *he poor children wore found g, »ly ciarred and only distinguishable one tiom the other by the size of the bodies. Tiie condition of the bereaved mother ell this time can be better imagined than described, and urged on by true naternal instinct she would herself, too, in a frantic attempt to reach her little onea, have fallen a victim to the devouring element, were it not that she was held back by friends and neighbours. The dreadful affair cast quite a gloo it over the whole district, and the greatest sympathy is felt for both Mr and Mrs Kichards in their bereavement, under such heartrending circumstances. Mr Warden Kenrick held an inquest at Karangahake on Monday last. Mr A» Hogg being foreman of the jury, who returned * verdict of a accidental death. The bodies, accompanied by the parents, were conveyed to Thames, and on Tues day kit there interred, large numbers attending the funeral as a mark of respect and sympathy.