A GIRLISH HEROINE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1220, 17 July 1885, Page 3

A GIRLISH HEROINE.

The inhabitants of Union street, Borough, London, were startled after 2 o’clock on the morning of Api il 24 by a violent exp'osion. It was iin me* diately afterwards discovered that a a shop at the corner of Union street was on fire, and several persons were seen at the windows in their night dresses crying for help. A message was sent to the chief fire station, and in less than seven minutes a number of fire engines had arrived and commenced playing upon the building, under the supervision of Captain Shaw. The lire burned with great rapidity, owing to the inflammable nature of the slock, consisting of paraffin and petro’eurn and other oils, and extended right and left. The first exidosion was followed by a lesser one, Mr Charles Fenton, a volunteer fireman, and his brother,, an undertaker carrying on business in the vicinity of the fire, on their arrival at the place saw a young woman with a child in her arms. Thinking that she was about to leap from the window, they divested themselves of their coats The woman (or rather girl, for she is described as a “ poor little domestic”) however, disappeared, and on rel urning threw one a bed. The crowd shouted out, “Throw out the children.” The young woman, named Eyres, then tied two sheets together, but the fumes from the paraffin were so overpowering that she had no time to fasten them to the bedpost, and they fell into the street. She then took the children, and cried out, ‘ Are you ready below ? ’ An answer in the affirmative was given, and they were caught by the four men holding the bed. Notwithstanding the suffocating smoke. Miss Eyres again reappeared with a third child in her arms, aged three year's. Unfortunately, on being thrown out, it struck against a projecting signboard, and was so seriously injured that it had to be taken to St. Thomas’ Hospital, where it subsequently dird. After this courageous act the girl leaped from the second-floor window, and sustained fearful injuries. She was removed to Guy’s Hospital, where it was ascertained that her spine was injured, and no hopes were entertained of her recovery, death intervening shortly after admission. Before the flames were got under no fewer than seven steamers and several manuals were brought into operation. On an entrance being effected by the firemen and the Salvage Corps, Henry Chandler was discovered burnt to death on staircase, holding a cashbox in his hand. His wife was found chirred and dead near the window, and her son Henry, aged six years, was by her side.