BURNED TO DEATH

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20016, 15 August 1939, Page 5

BURNED TO DEATH

SEVEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL

TRAGEDY ON BIRTHDAY BRAVE RESCUE EFFORTS MEN’S VAIN SEARCH (Per Press Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, this diay. Trapped in a blazing cottage at Waitaanga, Leslie Mary McGreevey, was burned to death in the early hours of Monday and on the morning of her seventh birthday, despite heroic attempts to rescue her by two men. Waitaanga is about 14 miles from Ohura.

.Mr. R. Ede who was living in the house, twice braved the flames to search for the child, but was driven back and when he failed Mr. Kelland hacked a hole in the'side of the room, but he too was unable to find her .

When the fire had burned itself out, charred human remains were found inside the ruins.

Severe burns were suffered by Mr. Ede and Miss Frederica Barnes, of Te Kauwhata.

Mrs. McGreevey, mother of the dead child, escaped and her baby was passed out through a window safely.

Awakening of Sleepers

Mrs. McGreevey and Miss Barnes, who were sleeping in the front bedroom with the two children awoke to find the'room full of smoke. Miss Barnes and Mr. Ede escaped through the only door at the back of the building. Mr. Ede broke open a window so that Mrs. McGreevey could pass the baby out. , She was overcome by smoke and had to be rescued by Mr. Ede, who re-entered in search of the little girl, but was driven out. He made a second attempt but without avail.

Residents were powerless to subdue the flames in the absence of a water supply, ibut they did what they could to extricate the little girl.

Mr. Kelland chipped a hole in the side of the room, but was unable to find her. Mrs. McGreevey was the last of the household to go to bed and just before she did so, she noticed a floorboard near the fireplace was smouldering. She threw water on to the boards and extinguished the fire with more water.