A Terrible Accident.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 70, 22 November 1887, Page 3

A Terrible Accident.

A MOTHER AND CHILD BURNT TO DEATH.

A tbightful accident occurred. at Newcastle on November 3, resulting in a woman named Kathleen Malcolm, forty-four years of age and her infant child, aged four years, being burned to death. At the time stated, those residing in the vicinity were startled by hearing sounds of a violent explosion proceeding from Malcolm’s residence, immediately followed by pitiful cries for help. Volumes of smoke were also seen issuing from the rafters. Shortly after the interior of the building was observed to be in flames. The front door of the house was forced open, and a shocking sight presented itself to the gaze of the spectators. Lying almost in front of the door was Mrs Malcolm, in, apparently, an unconsnious condition, the front room and the adjoining being full of smoke. The woman was quickly removed to the street, where she was found to be quite dead. Bounds as of a child crying being heard, search was instituted, and, amidst the smoke, lying on the floor, near where its mother had fallen in het endeavours to escape, was a little child moaning piteously. The remains of the unfortunate woman were conveyed to the morgue, and. the child wm removed to the Hospital. Two other children of the deceased had a narrow escape. With the assistance of the neighbors and the members of the various fire brigades the Are was extinguished. The little dhild lingered in agony for four hours, and then expired. At the inqaest the jury returned a verdict of death through burns accidently received. The evidence showed at the time of the occurrence Mm Malcolm was putting a kettle on the fire, a tin of kerosene, half-full, with two small apertures at the top, standing 2ft vy. By some means the flames from the fire reached the tin and an explosion followed. Almost immediately the woman and her infant child, who’ was playing under the table, were enveloped in flames. The eldest daughter of the deceased, aged eleven, who was coming down the stain at the time, observed her mother hastily pick up the child end run to the front door. flying the room on fire the girl rushed upstairs, and was rescued by a man named Hardy. Meanwhile her brother Sammy, who was playing in the yard, hearing his mother’s screams opened the back door and rushed inside. The draught caused by the opening of the door gave impetus to the flames, which spread rapidly. Seeing his mother and little sister on fire, the little fellow succeeded in opening the front door, but as soon as he got outside it slammed to and he heard a noise as of that of a fall. He endeavored to push the door open from the outside, but being badly burnt and exhausted by the effects of the smoke, he was unable to do so. His cries soon brought the neighbours to his assistance, and two men, named Malone and Aiderton, buret open the door and at the risk of their lives snatched the body of the unfortunate woman and her little one from the flames.