AUCKLAND SENSATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 February 1923, Page 1

AUCKLAND SENSATION.

ICL CUVa.M I’OISONiNti. TWO FAMILIES STIUGKIiN. UV TELKtaiAl'il —Pit ESS ASSN., COPYIUOE.T. AUCKLAND, February 11. Five people in one family, four in another, and a woman in a third, all residents of Baker Street, off Cook Street, are suffering from a mysterious and acute form of poisoning, alleged to have had its origin in ice cream. Within a few hours, the ’ partakers, or the majority of them, were suffering great agony. The victims are : - - George AY. Burgess, waterside worker Douglas Burgess, three years of age: Norgon Burgess, nine years of age; Alfred Burgess 11 years of age: Edward Burgess 17 years of age: Mark Ward; Mrs Ward: Walter Ward, five years of age: Hilda Ward, -nine years of age: also Mrs Scafont, Baker Street. Tn the case of the Burgess family, a friend brought them some ice cream and it was distributed among the family. tile mother and little hoy having a small qnantitv, in addition to those who became ill. The children subsequently 1 rename very unwell, and complained of severe pains in the head and stomach. The eldest lfoy find Airs Burgess also were seized about the same time.

A doctor was summoned, and it is stated lie attributed the cause of tlioir illness to the ice cream. The temperature of the patients was very high, and Burgess and tlie boy Xorinan wore in a serious condition. Tlioir faces were of a ghastly colour, indicating the grave nature of their illness. The symptoms were head and stomach pains, and vomiting, accompanied by severe diarrhoea, the temperatures if the patients suffering mostly being s high in the case of the Wards. The little girl Hilda obtained ice cream from the same source, getting it in two threepenny cups ami five penny cups, p’onr in the family ate the ice cream, and during the night the father and mother became very ill. The children became aifeeteil .-hortly after and all were prostrated. In tlie house opposite .All's Sealuul isi'll In bed, • ulTerui'. >n the stmt" man ins .die ate threepence worth of ire ere a m A family at ’Vincent Street also sampled tlie ice cream. Airs Webster, wlitui eating it lemarked on its being tasteless, while a man who was eating 1 some of it. said it had a soapy taste, j Sevetal persons partook of it. but Airs ; Websj.r was the only one ill the house I who thought sic- suffered an- ill effe- i> ; She did not feel very well during the ! night mid could not sleep. | To-d:>v (I cargo Burgess and Xorman j Burgess were still en|ferin<r consider- I ably. j Tlie AVard family were ‘■cut to the j j hospital to-day. and are progressing t i well. I