CHILD'S TRAGIC END

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 294, 16 April 1941, Page 5

CHILD'S TRAGIC END

DEATH IN BURNING HOUSE FARM HOUSE RAZED * OUTBREAK ON MONDAY NIGHT To end in tragedy a fire broke out and completely destroyed' a six-roomed farm dwelling on Elvers Road 1 on Monday night, Cedric Barry Coull, four-year-old son of Mrs Gertrude Florence CSoull, being burnt to death when he re-entered the house after having been carried 1 to safety by his great-uncle in whose charge he; had been left. Mr Percy A, Hammond, who was in charge of two children, while other of the household were attending the theatre, was drawn from his bed by the smell of smoke. He found the kitchen ablaze and carrying the four-year-old boy from the house returned to get the • other child, Denis Hammond, five- . year-old son of Mr Gordon Hammond. • * \ Infant Returns. The little boy, )f remaining outside as he had been told to ■ do, followed his great-uncle indoors -again and was overcome by smoke. Mr Hammond, having brought the other child outside then the deceased infant's absence and - once more entered the blazing building, but failed to find the ■ child before he was driven back in the face of the -flames. No Water Handy. Although the Whakatane Fire Brigade promptly answered the call when it was received it was found that no water mains were within ' useful range of the house which was some distance from the road, ;and although it did all possible it was unable to quell the flames. l On arrival the members found the building framework was all that remained standing, the roof and walls -having collapsed.

Supply from River. Cutting their way through three fences the firemen made a desper-> ate effort to obtain water by pumping from the river nearby, but before they could make a start the flames had practically demolished ■ the building. However, sufficient water was pumped to quell the flames sufficiently that the child's was recovered. Brigade Delayed. Although a person rushed to give "the alarm it was unfortunate that lie did not fully understand the •system, and, although breaking the glass of the alarm at Stewart Street he failed to press the nob and so send the call through. In the meantime a fireman who discovered that the house was on fire sped by car to the station. Thus it was not until nearly - 20 minutes after the outbreak was discovered that the alarm was giv--«jfi to the Brigade. However, it is. not likely that anything could have been done by the Fire service owing to the shortage of water and the fact that the flames had such a good hold when discovered by Mr Hammond. Second Call. The call was the second which "had been received by the Brigade on Monday evening a chimney in the residence of IMPS: Dave King, Landing Road, having caught alight :and the siren being sounded at •about 7.53 p.m. This was expeditiously controlled. INQUEST HELD An inquest was opened before Mr G. A. Brabant, district coroner ivesterday afternoon and following the evidence being heajjlfea verdict returned that the deceased was burnt to death wher. the house in which he resided was destroyed by 'fire. Gertrude Florence Coull, married, stated that she lived with her mother who kept house for Mr Percy Hammond, and that she on Monday evening attended the picture theatre with her mother, Mrs Perkins, Mrs Sarah Hume and Mr and Mrs Gordon Htmmond. She took her eldest child with her, her son Denis being left at home. As ■ she left the theatre she had been told that the house had been burnt and left for home. She had been stopped at Mr Grose's house and told that her son was burnt.

Awakened by Smoke. The deceased's great uncle, Mr Percy Hammond, said that lie had been in bed with the deceased child asleep with him. The wireless was operating and he was listening to the news, when he must have fallen asleep. He awoke to smell smoke and rising to attend the sitting room fire found that the smoke was coming from elsewhere. He opened the kitchen door to be met Avith a rush of flame which burnt his face. Returning to the verandah he carried deceased outside and told him ic wait. That was the last time lie saw the boy. House well Ablaze. Returning to the house he brought Denis Hammond to safety from the house which was then a mass of flame. He heard then a call from the deceased boy and realised that he must have followed into the house. He had some difficulty in getting Denis to stay outside and then he once more went into the building and groped about in the sitting room. His calls brought no reply and the flames forced him from the building.

Fireman Arrives

Mr Hammond continued that the house was well afire before any effort was. made to get the Fire Brigade and this attempt was made when Fireman Wiggins arrived at the house. Fireman Wiggins wished to enter the house to find the boj r , but witness told him that it would be impossible to save the infant. When the Brigade arrived, after what seemed a long time, it did good work under handicap, but had no chance of saving the building.

Origin Obscure,

In his evidence Superintendent F. H. Stewart of the Whakatanc Fire Brigade, stated that he had been on theatre duty and did not arrive at the fire until after the engine, and on arrival found only the frame work standing. He added that the origin of the fire was obscure, but he ventured the suggestion that the outbreak started in either the washhouse or the kitchen. The fire alarm had not been given until about 20 minutes after the fire was discovered.