BURNED TO DEATH.

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 428, 13 February 1875, Page 5 (Supplement)

BURNED TO DEATH.

An accident of the most painful and heartrendering description happened to a girl, aged about thirteen years, named Mary Anne Lee, on Friday afternoon, the 15th instant, between 'hree and four o'clock, at her father's place at the back of the Orange pound. It appears from what the Western Examiner can gather of the lamentable occurrence, that " the girl was washing outside the house, when by some means or other her dress caught fire, and suddenly began to blaze. The poor creature, terrified and enveloped in flames, rushed down towards the creek screaming ; and eye-wit-nesses assure us that the burning shreds from her dre-.s even set fire to the grass as she passed on. Some neighbours came to the rescue as soon as possible, but not until nearly every stitch on the unfortunate girl was burned, her body presenting a most horrible aspect from the aspect of the fire, being literally roasted, and the stays she woie were too hot to handle in the unloosening. The poor unfortunate was conveyed to an adjacent hut, when medical assistance was obtained, and every effort possible to alleviate her agony was made, but the unfortunate girl expiied bet ween seven and eight o'clock on Friday evening.