Margaret McArtney, 1860-8/9/1879.

Margaret McCartney (the exact spelling of her surname is unclear) died in the disastrous fire of Ross' building in the Octagon, on the site where the Regent Theatre now stands.  Also victims of the fire were the Wilson family - five died and two young children lay in the hospital asking when their parents would come to visit, until the Lady Mayoress took on the difficult task of telling them the awful truth.  Their story has already been published in this blog.

THE FIRE IN THE OCTAGON

INQUEST ON THE BODIES  (excerpt)

Mary Sloane, laundress, employed at the Gridiron Hotel, said: I recognise the body of Margaret McCartney. I, think she was about 20 years of age, and was a native of Ballymacquiggen, County Derry. She was unmarried, and was a servant by occupation, and a Roman Catholic by religious persuasion. She leaves no means so far as I know. She was was staying with Mrs Wilson. She had only been in this Colony since the 12th of January last, having come to New Zealand direct from Home per ship Oamaru. I recognise her by a tooth in her upper jaw. I wanted her to leave the place about a fortnight ago, but she preferred to stay there a little longer. She had two cousins in the Colony.   -Otago Daily Times, 13/9/1879.

Yesterday the funerals of John Taylor and Margaret McCartney, two victims of the fire, took place. John Taylor was the man who jumped from the front of the building and was killed; and Margaret McCartney was domestic in Mr Wilson’s family. Taylor was buried in the Northern Cemetery, and his funeral was largely attended, amongst those in following being a number of the members of the bootmakers’ Society, the deceased having been of that trade. The Rev. Dr Stuart performed the burial service. Margaret McCartney was interred in the Roman Catholic portion of the Southern Cemetery. A large number of the public joined in the funeral procession, and probably 1,000 people were assembled at the cemetery when the burial took place. The Rev. Father O’Leary officiated at the grave.  -Evening Star, 15/9/1879.

Southern Cemetery, Dunedin.  DCC photo.