FIRE TRAGEDY.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19330, 9 August 1934, Page 8

FIRE TRAGEDY.

BLAZE AT OHAUPO.

graphic stories.

GIRLS’ TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE,

"HOUSE ALL ABLAZE.”

TE AWAMUTU, Thursday,

Miss Nellie Jary said she was awakened by a noise about 3.30 this morning, and found her bedclothes were on fire and one wall of her room was ablaze.

“ I awakened my sister Leila, who was sleeping in the same bed, and got her out through the window," she said. “ I called out to my parents, who occupied the next bedroom, but got no response, and had to get through the window myself. ,1 went round to the back door and was met by my sister Nordry, who had heard me calling out. When I got outside the front of the house was all ablaze. I made an attempt to get into my parents’ bedroom, but was unable to do so owing to the Are being so fierce."

" The girls told me their home was burning and that their parents were inside,” said Mr Alfred Roberts, a neighbour. “ Half-dressed, I rushed over to the homestead, but a glance showed that it was hopeless. The roof had fallen in over the front part of the house, including the bedroom where Mr and Mrs Jary had been sleeping, and - the rest of the house was -completely gutted inside. We thought we could see the bodies by tho light of the flames, but the intense heat kept us back. The roof fell in bit by bit as the fire ate its way through the house, from the front, where it had apparently started, to the hack. When the fire reached the kitchen a couple of boxes of cartridges began to explode, making It extremely hazardous to approach too closely. Finally the hot water boiler exploded.”