BOYS SUFFOCATED

Hokitika Guardian, 24 June 1927, Page 4

BOYS SUFFOCATED

FRANTIC MOTHER’S (7ftDEAL. SYDNEY, June 10. Lighting a fire in straw and rubbish that reposed in an old, disused water tank into which they had crawled in their play, two small hoys were so affected by smoke and burns that, they both inter died. The tragedy occurred at Young, a town in tiie southern district of Xew South Wales. The hoys were the sons of neighbouring families. One, James Barnett, was six years of age, and his little playmate, Richard Spark was a year younger. They were playing in tlie backyard of Barnett’s home, when Mrs Barnett, engaged in household duties shortly after lunch, heard tiie cry of a child and went out to investigate. She sawsmoko coming from flic tap-hole of the tank, which was lying on its side in tiie yard, and found that the children had lighted a fire in the tank, and had been overcome hy the fumes. She was unable to see tiie hoys, hut heard gasping and moaning. It was impossible for her to crawl through the ’‘manhole’' in the tank, through which the children had thrust their small frames, so she called to her son, “Jimmie, come down this end,” thinking that if the boys could comply she would he able to pul! them through the hole. But there was no response. Her first impulse was to put out the fire. She threw several buckets of water through the opening, but- the smoke only became more dense.

With no help available, the frantic mother was confronted with the knowledge that unless she did something promptly, the two hoys would soon ho suffocated. Frantic, as she was. she vet faced the situation with great intelligence. She secured an axe. and hacked an opening at the other end of the tank, through which she entered. Groping her way through the smoke, she found the hoys huddled and unconscious, and dragged them through the aperture. She carried them into the fresh air and telephoned for a doctor. But the courageous mother’s efforts were in vain. Her neighbour’s child died a few hours later in hospital from burns, shook, and tiie effect of choking smoke, and her own bov did not survive the ordeal 24 hours. Fate played a cruel trick with young Dicky Spark. His mother., the wife of a solicitor, told Dicky that she was going to take him for a motor-ear ride hut the boy begged to be allowed to stay at home and play with his littTe mate, Jimmy Barnett. That hour of play for which he had entreated was the one that brought about his death.