MOTHER AND BABY BADLY BURNED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2962, 14 November 1925, Page 3

MOTHER AND BABY BADLY BURNED.

USED BENZINE TO LIGHT A FIRE. Auckland, Last Night. A shocking affair occurred at Penrose this afternoon, AA'hen a young married Avoman and her baby son Avere very seriously burned as the result of the ignition of some benzine which Avas being used by the mother in lighting a fire. The victims of the accident Avere Mrs Dorothy Louisa Williams aged 29, Avife of Henry Hugh Williams, stoneAvorker of Penrose and their son Geoffrey, aged tivo and a half years.

Mr and Mrs Williams lived Avith their tAvo little sons, aged five and tAvo years in a tAvo-roomed cottage in Ferndale road betAveen Penrose and Panmure. Mr. Williams Avas busy at his Avork in a quarry not far from the house this afternoon and his Avife avus at home Avith the tAvo children. At about half past four, M’s Williams set about lighting the fire and apparently had some difficulty according to the story of the elder boy. She then used some motor spirit in an effort to get the fire going. Evidently the flamo reached a larger quantity of spirit than Avas intended and disaster followed. The mass of flames set the interior of the room alight and set fire to Mrs William’s clothing. The unfortunate woman rushed outside with her clothing alight. She Avas seen by a passer-by, J. O’Halloran, Avho rushed to her assistance, taking off his coat and Avrapping it round her and thus quelling the flames. Mrs Williams Avas in a state of collapse and was seen to be fearfully burned all over the body. The elder boy got out of the burning house unhurt, but Geoffrey was left inside.

Another man happened to be handy at the time, Peter Tostafen. He rushed inside and brought him out though the little felloAV Avas burned about most parts of the body. Mrs Williams and the baby Avere taken to a neighbouring house and everything possible Avas done for them.

Dr. W. McCormick, of Remuera, Avas sent for and after preliminary treatment, the tAvo sufferers Avere brought to hospital by ambulance.

Meanwhile, the house Avas burning fiercely. The flames obtained a good hold right from the commencement and Avere helped by a strong Avind. Nothing could be done to save the house or its contents and the building Avas absolutely destroyed, Avith everything in it. The house Avas owned by Mr. Percy Winstone, of Remuera.

Much sympathy is felt in the district for the afflicted family. Williams is a returned soldier and has himself been a patient for some time in the Evelyn Firth Home at Parnell. Since leaving there, he had been making every effort to establish a home at Penrose. He had no insurance on his furniture in the house