SHOCKING OCCURRENCE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2306, 21 April 1887, Page 2

SHOCKING OCCURRENCE.

[by telegraph.--own CORRESPONDKN'f.]

Auckland, Wednesday. A shocking fatality occurred at the residence {of Mr Gledhill, Argyle-street, ■ Ponsonby, last evening, the victim being Miss Minnie Gledhill. second daughter of Mr George Gledhill, the well-known cordial manufacturer. It would appear that last night, about eight o'clock, Mrs Gledhill, accompanied by her eldest daughter, had gone out to visit a neighbour, leavingMissMinnie aged 20, and Miss Nellie, aged about . alone in the house. Mr Gledhill was in '..■ town, and the other two members of the> family were also absent. , The two girls, . who it appears slept together,. went into the bedroom, intending to retire for the nightt. Before Minnie Gledhill had commenced to undress she observed that the gas bracket, which was fixed to the wall near the window, had been pushed round in such away. . that the flame of the gas came in contact with the window curtain, which was all ablaze. The girl seized : fiercely , the burning curtains, and pulling them down to the floor proceeded • to. Btamp out the flames. While thusengaged the younger sister. noticed that Minnie s dress had iginited at the back;, and rushing forward she endeavoured toV throw her down, and so extinguish the* Are. The unfortunate girl, who by this time had become conscious of her danger, lost all presence of mind, and escaping f roini the • arms of her sister, rushed out of the house shirieking wildly for her mother. * The agonised cries of the poor girl, brought a large number of neighbours to the spot, also Mrs Gledhill, and her eldest daughter. The girl was one mas* of flames, and so fiercely did her clothing: burn that, many neighbours at first thought that the house was on tire. Her burning: dress ignited the pine needles as she rushed about the garden in aimless agony, and she then left a train of fire behind her on the ground. Shewasatoncepushedtotheground and rags and other thick articles speedily extinguished the fire. Not one minute could have elapsed beyond the moment the first scream was heard and the .extinguishment of the flames, yet every stitch of the lower portion of her clothing was completely burnt off her body. Her injuries; were so severe that, despite medical skilL she died before morning.