%META:TOPICINFO{author="PaulKlemick" date="1185039264" format="1.0" version="1.1"}% %META:TOPICPARENT{name="PolishArtilces"}%

-- PaulKlemick - 21 Jul 2007

FATAL FIRE IN DUNEDIN

FOUR CHILDREN BURNT

DISCOVERY OF THREE OF THE BODIES

A terrible fire broke out in a small wooden house in Smith-street, near the corner of Dowling-street, shortly after four o’clock yesterday morning, by which four children were burnt to death. The house was occupied by Julius Bischefski, his wife, and four children, who all slept upstairs.

The fire appears to have broken out on the ground floor of the building, and the family were not aroused till it broke through the upper floor. Bischefski and his wife got through a window, leaving the children in bed, but it was not known for some time that there was anyone in the house, as little attention was paid to the maddening screams of Mrs. Bischefski. When the Brigade arrived, however, the house was entirely enveloped in flames, and it would have been too late to have rendered any assistance. The names of the four children who were burnt were-

Francis Bischefski, aged 8 years,

Minnie Bischefski, aged 6 years,

Martha Bischefski, aged 4 years, and

Thomas Croft, aged 13 years.

The fire spread to the next house on either side, both of which were destroyed. ["Daily Times"] "The Taieri Advocate", 22 February 1882