KENT FETE DISASTER

Hokitika Guardian, 16 July 1929, Page 5

KENT FETE DISASTER

(United Press Association.—By Electn Telegraph.—Copyright.) LONDON, July 12. ■ The mother and father of. Leonard Winn, a thirteen years’ old Sea Scout, a victim of the Gillingham fire tragedy, sat at his bedside throughout the night, waiting for the end. The boy constantly strove to obtain a last look at his parents. He seemed not to realise his blindness. His father told aim he was dying, but he did not seem to mind. He asked after the other boys, and how the tragedy happened. Nobody seemed to know, because those who might have explained, perished. It was an annual comedy, in ‘ which the firemen were supposed to rescue the scouts, who hang out of windows and scream for help. A maroon light should have been fired to indicate “all clear,” but on this occasion, the combustibles were lit first. A crowd of 5000 laughed at the antics of the actors on the roof. Then fire broke out and the actors rushed hither and thither, seeking to escape. The boys came to the windows crying for help. The crowd only laughed louder. Even the firemen in the waiting queue laughed. They had only a makeshift tank which was useless. The firemen did their best. Many people, not waiting for the end, went home not even knowing that a tragedy had been enacted. Apart from those who leaped to the ground nearly all the victims were found huddled on the roof. They were mostly unrecognisable. Four remain unidentified. There was another death tonight making thirteen. Two firemen are in a critical condition. It lias been a tragic week for Britain, with the submarine and two colliery disasters, and the cinema fire in which altogether 49 are dead.