BURNING FATALITY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1098, 17 May 1913, Page 3

BURNING FATALITY.

LITTLE GIRL THE VICTIM,

A sad burning fatality occurred at Shannon just before midday on Thursday, resulting in the death of the two and a-halt years old daughter of Mr and Mrs P. Gill. It .appears that Mrs Gill had occasion to go to the wash house at the . back of the house, leaving the child in the kitchen in front of the range. On returning to the house a few minutes later she found the little girl in the passage enveloped in flames. She smothered the flames, and being alone in the house carried the unfortunate child, to a neighbour’s residence. The chemist was summoned and medical aid sent for irom Foxton. and everything possible done for the little sufferer, but the child succumbed at about half past four.

Sincere sympathy is felt for Mrs and Mrs Gill in their sad bereavement.

THE INQUEST

An inquest was held at Shannon yesterday, before Mr Alf. Fraser, District Coroner, when the following evidence was taken: —

Mrs Gill stated that at about a quarter to twelve she went out to the wash house for a few minutes, leaving the child in the kitchen. There was a fire in the range, which was closed with the exception of the lower door. She was outside for about ten minutes, and when she returned she found the child in the passage enveloped in flames. She smothered the flames, and being alone in the house carried the child to the residence of a neighbour, Mrs Quarrie, who ran and got the chemist. He did what he could until the arrival of the doctor at a quarter to two. Dr. Adams in evidence stated that he received information that a little child had been badly burned at Shannon, and upon arrival there found that the child, Kathleen Gill, had received burns practically from head to foot. He attended to the child and dressed the wounds. At about four o’clock she began to show signs of collapse and succumbed dt about half past four. In his opinion death was due to shock caused by burns. The Coroner returned a verdict that the cliild died from shock caused by burns, accidentally received.'