DASHED INTO FLAMES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 76, 22 December 1937, Page 10

DASHED INTO FLAMES

Coroner Praises ^ Woman's Vain Heroism The bravery of a woman who rushed back into a burning house in the belief that one of her daughters was still there, was commended by the district coroner, Mr E. M. Somerville, at the inquest in Te Kuiti into the death of Safah Emily Parkes, of Karaea, Aria, on December 7. The coroner's verdict was that Mfs Parkes died from shock following ex- . tfensive burns. He added that the evidence did not disclose the cause of the fire, but there did hot appear to be any suspicious circumstances. Evidence given by the three daughters showed that they and Mrs Farkea were awakened by fire about 1 a.m., and escaped from the house. Myrtle went down to the cowshed for a bucket, and her mother, thinking she was in the blazing building, dashed inside and then eame out again with her clothing in flames. The four of them then made their way threequarters of a mile to the home of Mr E. Thomas. Mrs Parkes was taken to the To Kuiti Hospital, and died the following night. The hi sbamd; Percy George Parkes, said he left home to sleep at a farm one ani a half niiJes away. He saw the refleetion of rhe fire during the niglP, but did not know of the tragedy uutii told early the nest morning. Constable Frasar said he had made a thorough investigation, but could find nothing to ' suggest that the fire had been caused wilfully.