A PITIFUL TRAGEDY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16542, 28 September 1921, Page 6

A PITIFUL TRAGEDY.

TWO CHILDREN LOST IN FIRE FATHER AND MOTHER AMONG SPECTATORS. HEROIC ATTEMPTS AT RESCUE FAIL. Despite heroic attempts being made to save them, two little girls were burned to death at Lyttelton last night, in the biggest lire that has occurred in the port for many years. The children were the daughters of Mr David S. Dodds, a mercer, dyer and cleaner, in business in London Street, who Avith. his wife, was present while the children were in die burning building. The girls wore both asleep in a room on iho upper storey of the building at the tiino the fire was discovered. Their names were: OLIVINE DODDS; aged ten. MAY JOSEPHINE DODDS, aged three. The shop occupied by Mr Dodds, and which was the scene of the tragedy, was one of a number of two-storeyed wooden buildings in London Street, and contained six rooms- altogether. JVfr and Airs Dodds closed the shop at < .30 last evening and went out for -a. walk along the Sumner Road, leaving their children in the house, the two girls in bed upstairs and a son, David Dodds, aged about thirteen, in the dining-roorn with another boy. At about half-past eight o’clock David heard a cry outside that tho building was on fire, and after rushing outside he returned and made efforts to rescue his sisters. The fire bad by this time, however, got possession of tile building, and the lad was forced back by the smoke and flamesTli© brigade then arrived on the scene and promptly got several leads of water on to the fire, not being aware at this time that anyone was in the building, which was then blazing fiercely. Shortly after the brigade’s arrival the lather-and mother returned. Mr mad© frantic efforts to enter the building, stating that his children were in one of the bedrooms, but owing to liis hysterical condition

he could not make it clear to the members of the brigade which room the children were in. An attempt to get to one of tlio windows was made by one of the firemen, but he i was forced back by the smoke and flames. Constable Baynes then attempted to effect a rescue of the children, but after managing to get through one of the windows he was overcome by the smoke and had to be dragged out by Air Eft ward Lester. During this time the rescuers wore at a great disadvantage owing to the verandah having a glass roof and the brigade not possessing an extension ladder. It was then decided to procure some planks from Messrs Hollis and Brown’s timber yard near by, the brigade meanwhile concentrating the leads of water on the room in which it had been ascertained tho children Finally, after the brigade had been on the scene about fifteen minutes, one of its members entered the room and brought but Olivine, the elder girl, and a few minutes later the younger girl was brought out. Both tlio children were* then dead, and their clothes had been burnt off their bodies. The two bodies were conveyed to the Lyttelton Casualty Ward, where they were examined, by Dr Up ham. He expressed the opinion afterwards that the younger child had been suffocated and had not struggled, hut that Olivine had apparently struggled and attempted to escape from the flames. The little girl was found lying in a natural position, although her body was badly burnt. i The father and mother were amongst the spectators, being helpless to do anything to save their children. Efforts were made to get them away, but they both refused to leave the burning building until the bodies were recovered. The scene was a tragic and pitiful one. Both parents were in a hysterical condition, and when they were persuaded to leave the fire they had to receive medical attention from Dr Gilmour. Air Dpdds cam© to Lyttelton, two years ago from Westport, where he was in 'business as a dver and cleaner. He established a similar business in Lyttelton, and by his energy and hard work achieved considerable success. Sincere sympathy is felt for both Mr Dodds and his wife in their tragic bereavement. It is assumed that the fire broke out in a workshop at the foot of the stairs arid worked up towards the top ol ! tho building. It was very fortunate that last night there was not a breath

of wind as otherwise the whole of tne buildings in the block would bare been endangered. The alarm was received by the brigade at about half-nost eight, and by 9.45 they were able to leave the building fn charge of two men. The structure was charred throughout, practically only tho walls remaining standing. On the right side is a building occupied by Air J. Hillsdon, photographer, and on the left side is n confectionery shoo owned by Airs Sheppard. Both these buildings were undamaged. The work of the fire brigade, which is a volunteer body, was commended by all who witnessed the fire. There was an ample water supply, and had it.net been for the brigade concentrating on the two front bedrooms, in one of which tho children were located, the outbreak would have been suppressea earlier. A big difficulty which the brigade had to contend with was the glass verandah, which impeded the progress of tho rescuers. Constable Baynes partly fell through tho verandah and cut his hands* and several others had similar experiences. The most pathetic scene was when tho bodies of the two children were brought down to the road in the presence of the distracted parents. The other boy was uninjured. The bed in which the children had been sleeping was close to the window, and had the rescuers been able to cross the verandah quickly it is possible that they would have had little difficult-** in getting to the children straight away. At the conclusion of tli© fire thecrowd gave hearty cheers for the brigade. It is stated that Olivine was noticed at the window during the fire, but tha-c evidently she was not strong enough to break it-, THE INQUEST OPENED. The inquest concerning the double fatality was opened at Lyttelton to-day by Air S. E. M’Carthy, S.AJ. It was decided to take only evidence of identification, which was given by the father of the children. The inquest was then adjourned until "Wednesday next. FUNERAL TO-MORROW. The funeral of the two little girls will take place to-morruv.- afternoon. The pupils (.i the. District High School, at which Olivine was a pupil, will at-