SHOCKING CALAMITY AT CLUNES.

Western Star, Issue 31, 13 June 1874, Page 2 (Supplement)

SHOCKING CALAMITY AT CLUNES.

A fire attended with sad loss of life occurred at Clones at 1 a.m. on May 17. The dwelling of Robert Ellis, a clerk, consisted of four rooms and a detached kitchen. At 11 o’clock the previous night Mrs Ellis, a helpless invalid, the servant, and three children, retired to bed. The father was absent down the town. The girl was awakened by the children who slept with her. In the excitement and endeavor to assist Mrs Ellis out of the house the children were forgotten, and the flames got such mastery over the building that all subsequent endeavors to rescue them were fruitless. The poor children were literally roasted alive. The building, being an old structure of wood, burned with great fierceness, and the supply of water was comparatively small. At the inquest the nursegirl deposed:—“The three children were in the same bed with me. Alter I had been asleep for some time I was awoke by the little boy. He called out that the candle was burning. I got out of bed and opened the bedroom door, and saw that the place was all in flames. I then got out of my bedroom window and went to call Mr Ellis, but he was not at home, and Mrs Ellis opened the front door. When I got out of bed the two little girls were asleep, but the little boy got out of bed. After I had been to call Mr Ellis I went back to my bedroom window and called the children, but could not see or hear them. The room then was full of smoke and flames. I screamed out ‘ Fire.’ I had no time to put clothes on. I did not try to get the children out before I got out myself, but thought I would get Mr Ellis to assist me. I took Mrs Ellis away, and went back for the children. The little boy got into bed again after I opened the bedroom door. I called to all three of them as I was getting out of the window. As soon as I had got out the window got slammed down. When I went back to the window, after going for Mr Ellis, I opened it, but the flames and smoke all rushed out. lam nineteen years of age. When I opened the door leading from my bedroom to the dining-room, after being awoke by Johnny, he ran into the dining-room and then back to the bed. He did not get into the bed. I tried to get hold of him before I got out of the window, but could not for the smoke. Just at that time the partition wall between the room I was in and the kitchen fell down.” The mother said: “The three children’s names were Frances Catherine Elizabeth—she would have been ten years old next September; the next was Mary Elizabeth—she was seven years old the 9th of last April; the boy’s name was John Richard Reginald—he was four years old. After I had been in bed a long time, though I never slept, I heard a great noise, as if something had fallen. I thought it was my husband closing the door roughly after coming in. I then saw a light on the wall by the window at the foot of the bed. I saw the light move, and then got up in the bed and saw the fire breaking through the partition in the corner at the head of the bed. I then jumped out of bed, and went out of my bedroom door along the lobby, and opened the dining-room door a little, and the flames came through. I cannot call out; I have scarcely any voice. I then went back to my bedroom, and got my flannel petticoat to put over myMieaJ to go through the flames to the cliirfh cu. I then put my hand to the lock of the front door, but suddenly thought it would be bad to open it, and I went back to the dining-room door, to which I had to ascend by three steps, but T was met there by the flames. I tried to close the diningroom door, but could not. I was unwilling to close my children in. I heard them crying. The little boy was calling ‘ Mamma !’ I had no idea that the girl had opened the window, or I would have gone through the flames. I then went to the front dear, and saw the girl standing under the verandah in her nightdress. I was surprised to see her there, thinking she must have passed my door and gone out without calling me. She might have called me before, but I had not heard her—l am so deaf. I said, ‘ Where are the children ?’ She said, 1 They are in bed.’ I then went into the house again, and she got hold of me and pulled me out.”

The jury returned a verdict of “ Accidental death,” and, while exonerating the nurse-girl frem wilful neglect, felt it necessary to State that her conduct was deserving of censure in not having made any attempt to save the children.