FIRE NEAR WELLINGTON.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXVIX, Issue 3651, 8 February 1881, Page 3

FIRE NEAR WELLINGTON.

THREE CHILDREN BURNT. [by telegraph.] A fire attended with fatal results occurred at Newtown at 10 o'clock on Saturday night. The house occupied by Charles Whittington, a driver, being destroyed, and his three children Herbert Christopher Whittington, Sarah Ohvie Whittington, and Millie Whittington, aged 6 years, 3 years and 10 monthe respectively, burnt to death. Mrs. Whittington put the children to bed early in the evening, and came to town. The husband remaining in the house. He left the building about an hour later to meet his wife, and on their return and when near the house there was a strong smell of fire, Whittington ran to the house and discovered the back portion on fire. He gained admission, but was unable to reach the children. The fire by this time had I a firm hold and all efforts to rescue the inmates were unavailing. Great excitement prevailed among the spectators when it was known that the children were in the burning building. Whittington states that everything was safe when he left, and that no lights were left burning, but a few sticks of wood were burning in the kitchen fireplace. It is not known how the fire originated, but, it is thought it must have been caused by the fire hi the kitchen. The remains were found at midnight. The boy was not much burnt, but, only the trunk of the eldest girl was found and nearly all traces of the infant were destroyed by fire. Whittington saved nothing, and being uninsured he is a heavy loser. The building which was totally consumed was owned by Sutherland, and not known if insured.

An inquest was held yesterday _ on the bodies but it revealed nothing. The verdict was, accidentally burned, with a rider calling on the Corporation to erect a fire bell which has been lying on the ground near the Station for many months.