BURNED TO DEATH.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1800, 12 July 1913, Page 4

BURNED TO DEATH.

NEIGHBOUR'S GALLANT EFFORT. (By Tolegraph—Press Association.) Auckland, July 11. A shocking burning fatality, resulting in the death of Ernest Edward Cooke, and tho total destruction of a live-roomed houso, occurred at Northcole last night. In tho dwelling, besides deceased, tliero were his wife, ail infant child, and n. guest (Miss Kemp). The womeu escaped only in their night apparel, and nothing of the furniture was saved. Deceased was about thirty-fivo years of age, and a baker by occupation. It appears that lie was preparing a pot of gruel for his wifo about 11 o'clock last night when n kcroseno lamp, used in tho kitchen for lighting, was either upset or exploded. Mrs. Cooke was alarmed by tho crash, rushed out of tho bedroom, got to tho kitchen door, and, oponing it, found the room enveloped in flames, and her husband with his clothes on fire, and lying in a state of collapse across tho doorway. Sho wns confronted with the task of lifting the burning body, but, finding her offorts quite unavailing, sho and Miss Komp ran out into tho street and called for help. A neighbour, named E. V. Fitzpatrick", attracted by the screams, promptly went to tho rescue, but, by this time, tho kitchen was a maws of (lame. lie, however,, pushed his way through to tho kitchen door, but found it impossible, lone-handed, to lift the lifeless body. Tho Binoke-laden air was suffocating, and, finding his goins (after a heroic effort to save his neighbour) he wns benten back by the smoke and flames. Tho remains were, recovered this morniug.