FATAL FIRE AT AUCKLAND.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13033, 17 February 1911, Page 4

FATAL FIRE AT AUCKLAND.

CHILDREN ROASTED TO DEATH,

BEFORE THEIR PARENTS' EYES

[United Press Association.]

Auckland, Feb. 16,

A fire at Ponsonby this morning in a fish shop and dwelling occupied by a man named Porteous and his brother-iin-law, Montford, resulted in the death, of Porteous' children—a boy and a girl, while th© two men, two women and a boy were badly burned, about the feet and body. The building was two-storied, and the upper story was used as a dwelling by Porteous and his family. The fire had bo strong a hold when Porteous awoke, that though every effort was made by himself and family, they failed to get the children alive out of the burning building.

The flames were belching from, the lower windows, and the? iron roof of the rverandah was red hot. There were in the building Mr and Mrs Porteons, Mr and Mrs Montford, three of Porteous.' children, ages eight, seven, ■and five years, and a nephew, Philip Ward, aged 12. The three boys in one room got out of the front window. Arthur, aged five, must have been injured when crossing the roof of the verandah, and so severely that ,he coald not igct up again. The father isaw him and made a frantic but ineffectual attempt to reach him. Meantime, the girl Hetty, aged seven, also fell down on th© red-hot roof. The fatlher and ui(cle strove to reach her, but unavailingly, and the two children were roasted to death before the eyes of the parents and a large crowd of spectators. The father and uncle were both badly burned. Porteous' feet were burned to the bone and he fell unconscious after fearful agonj'.

Mrs Porteous also fell on the roasting iron and her hands r.nd feet were badly burnt, but she. was rescued by Montford, who also was frightfully burned.

Portcous and wife and the child Philip were taken to a privite hospital. Mrs Porteous is in a critical condition, and her husband is in a state of collapse. Montford and his wife were sent to the public hospital.