TRAPPED IX FLAMES.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 November 1927, Page 4

TRAPPED IX FLAMES.

NEWCASTLE, Nov. -I. Trappcd in her bin-dug lionie. with no hope ot escape, Mary Jane Mutton, of Wilson Street, Most \\ allsend, was burned to death. Awakened when the cottage was well alight, she returned to her bedroom, evidently to retrieve some valued possessions and was overcome by smoke and flames. The woman lived with, her husband. David .Mutton, 75. in a small weatherboard cottage. About J.JO a.i11., the husband was awakened by the fire, lie and his wile ran to the bedroom door. She went to her son’s room, while he went down a passage to get his coat. When he tried to return in a few seconds. a wall of flame blocked his way, and. to his horror, he realised that his wife was trapped. Hushing round the house, he tried frantically to gain entrance through a window, but the flames drove him back. A passing miner rushed to the fire station, and within a short time, West Wallsend, with an antiquated hand machine, arrived. A hole was smashed in the side of the bedroom wall, and through this the woman could be seen, overcome by the smoke and flames. A hose was played on the body, but when the firemen entered the woman was dead.