CLOTHES AFIRE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 543, 29 May 1933, Page 5

CLOTHES AFIRE

TRAPPED IN BURNING TENT BUT ESCAPES TO BUSH CAUGHT WHILE ASLEEP Trapped in a blazing tent, a Maori woman, Mrs. Appleton, of Mamaku, fought her way through the flames on Friday morning and escaped to the bush with her clothes afire. Mrs. Appleton whose husband is employed at Gamman's Mill, . Mamaku was resting in the tent in which she resides with her family. Apparently her husband, after departing for his work at the mill, left the fire smouldering after cooking his breakfast. A wind must have arisen for the next thing Mrs. Appleton knew was that the tent was ablaze and her clothing was alight. Forcing her way through' the flames she managed to get out into the bush and this without suffering more than rather superficial burns. However she sUstained more burns when endeavouring to extinguish her clothes and this she succeeded in doing hy rolling on the ground. She managed to make her way to Mr. Biddois's residence, where her injuries were attended to. Nothing was saved from the tent which, with all the property, was completely destroyed. Her escape is the more fortunate in that she was -able to get out of the tent in time to beat out the, flames on her clothing before they had obtained too stroiig a hold. It is not known exactly how the fire originated but it is surmised that a flap of the tent hecame ignited by contact with the fire. Late last ni'gKt Mrs. Appleton was doing as well as cpuld he expected in view of the painful nature of t^'e burns.