Fire at Eton.

Manawatu Herald, 4 June 1903, Page 2

Fire at Eton.

The residence of Mr Kindersley, one of the masters of Eton College, was gutted by fire early on Monday. Great difficulty Was experienced in rescuing the inmates. Many brave deeds are recorded. Two boys died of suffocation. One of them struggled to remove the bars of an upper window until he became unconscious. A large creeper growing in front of the house enabled many to descend to the ground. Mr Kindersley and several other's were injured. The King and Queen are much distressed by the occurrence. FURTHER PARTICULARS. The fire at Mr Kindersley’s house at Eton College is attributed to a defective flue. . Twenty-nine Students, as well as Mr Kindersley, bis wife and children and ten maid servants had marvellous escapes, • being rescured from perilous positions the older windows of the building were barred. Mr Kindersley, who jumped from from an upper W'inclow, was much burnt about the hands and face while trying with a crowbar to assist the firemen to break the bars of a window where amidst the flames could be seen James Herne, aged thirteen, son of Major Herne, of the j Highland Light Infantry, making, francttc efforts to force the bars. : The unfortunate boy was overcome, and his charred remains were afterwards recovered. Frank Lawson, fourteen years of age a grand-nephew of Sir Edward LaWsOil, Was suffocated in his bed in a backroom on the Same floor. In consequence of the disaster, the Fourth of June celebrations have been abandoned. AH the newspapers protest against barred windows being permitted in schools.