A BRAVE GIRL.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 977, 29 December 1882, Page 4

A BRAVE GIRL.

(Southland Times.) It has only jnst become known in town that the house of Mr Sutherland, settler, Hedgecope, was destroyed by fire, with its entire contents, on Monday, 11th instant. The loss to the family is a severe one, Mr Sutherland having settled on his land only. a short time ago, and the only insurance being £IOO on the house. The loss otherwise is estimated at £l5O. The origin of the conflagration is unknown, but was probably a red ember on the shingles, fanned by a strong nor’-wester. The gallant conduct of the daughter of the house on the occasion merits commendation and reward. Mrs Sutherland had gone on a visit to Taieri, and the father went off with a team to the Woodlands in the forenoon, leaving his eldest daughter, a girl of 13 years, to look after the house and younger children. She states that during the afternoon she lit a fire with scrub to bake, and supposes that a spark set fire to the roof. The fire had gained a strong hold before she knew of it, and her first impulse was to run upstairs for her baby brother, who was asleep. She reached him, but, on trying to retuan, she found that the flames were coming up the stair, and that it.was impossible for her to pass slowly through them. It was at this point the girl showed a sagacity not possessed by many of her sex, even of mature years, in the presence of danger. Going to the window, she opened it and threw out a mattrass and other bedding, on top/bf which she dropped the affrighted child. Wrapping bet self in a blanket, she hurried down the burning stairway and escaped. No one lives within,a mile of Mr Sutherland’s, so that no help could be got to save clothing or furniture and all was consumed. Neighbours took the children away ; and the shock Mrs Sutherland suffered on walking home next day to'find her house swept away, and her children scattered, can scarcely be realised. The little fellow who was so unceremoniously dropped from the window got a severe fright, and has been affected by sleeplessness since. A little over two years ago the Sutherlands lost a fine boy by drowning at Greytown.