A FATAL FIRE
A magisterial Enquiry was held on Wednesday last at Willenabrina by Mr. Kelsall, J.p., and senior-Constable Daer, concerning the death of Walter Saunders, aged 4 years, who was burnt to death on the previous day, when the following particulars were ascertained :- Mr M Saunders, a new arrival in the district, and his wife were away from home, leaving in charge an old man, the grandfather aged 79, a daughter aged 14 years, and three younger members of the family, including the deceased. Before retiring to bed on Tuesday night the girl states that she carefully extinguished the fire with water and used no other light during the evening. The grandfather took a lamp to his room, but put out the light before going to sleep. The children all slept together. At about 6.30 on Wednesday morning the girl was awakened by loud crackling noise, and jumped out of bed terror stricken to find the house in flames. She quickly alarmed the other inmates and rushed from the building. Looking around she missed Walter and fearing that he had been left behind, made frantic but futile efforts to enter the burning building, which was now one fierce blaze rendering near approach almost impossible, and the poor little fellow fell a victim to the flames. His charred remains were subsequently discovered among the ashes by some neighbours. The house contained three rooms and was constructed of pine and pug, with thatched roof, and burned very rapidly. It was situated about a mile from the nearest dwelling and the dreadful occurrence was all over before the neighbours became aware that anything was wrong.
The magistrate gave his opinion to the effect that the deceased had met his death by being burnt to death at his father's residence, but that there was no evidence to show how the fire originated. Great sympathy is felt for the awful catastrophe that has befallen them.
( RYLES Emphraim born 10.4.1811 Newcastle the grandfather )
(SAUNDERS : Rose Rebecca 1876-04-13 the 14 year old girl )
(: Fredrick John & John William other two children )
Walter is buried in the church of England section in an unmarked grave no 72 also the records shows five years previously a Charles McDonald was buried as a pauper there, but Walter is now the owner of it because the captain of the Salvation Army arranged it .
Mathew Saunders, buried warracknabeal cemetery Wesleyan Section. Grave Number 592. 31-8-1898 aged 49 years.
We have to report the death of Matthew Saunders of Brikkle Plains which occurred this week, the cause of death being epilepsy from which he had been suffering for about nine months. The deceased who was 49 years old was born at Bowden in South Australia and resided in that colony for forty years before coming to Victoria nine years ago. He left a wife and eight children to mourn their loss.
His remains were interred in the Warracknabeal Cemetery last Wednesday when there was a large number present to pay their last tribute of respect to the deceased.
The funeral arrangements were in the hands of Mr D.J. Jamouneau.