TERRIBLE DEATH OF A FIREMAN.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2719, 14 December 1889, Page 2 (Supplement)

TERRIBLE DEATH OF A FIREMAN.

A disastrous lire broke out shortly lifter 2 o'clock on tho afternoon of 12th September, at tile chemical works of Messrs Burroughs, Wellcome and Co., at Bell-lane, Wandsworth. The firemen had not lung been at work when a report was spread that a woman was still inside the building. Two firemen, William Godfrey Jacobs and William Ashby, both attached to the Wandsworth division, at once entered the factory, which was now well alight, with the intention of rescuing the woman. Unfortunately the fire cut oil their retreat, and finding no trace of the supposed missing woman, they had no resource but to make for the windows on the third floor, which faccd the river. On presenting themselves at one of the windows the gallant fellows were at once obsorved by their comrades and by the police, and a ladder was instantly run up by iiremen Hilton and Stanley. Unhappily, it was only then discovered that the framework of the windows was of iron. The men on the ladder and Jacobs and Ash by made frantic efforts to smash the framework, but it yielded beforo their axes very slowly, and all the time the smoke and flames increased, and crept nearer and nearer to the men inside. At length, when rescuo seemed impossible, the men outside effected a breach, through which they dragged William Ashby, half unconscious and dreadfully burnt about the body. Ashby owed hL life to the fact that he was a thin spare man. J'oor Jacobs, being a stout, heavy man, between 18st. aud I9st. in weight could not be pulled through, and suffered a fearful death before the eyes of his comrades. All that man could do to save him was well done, but in the short space of time upon which depended his chance of life, it was found impossible cither to drag him through or to enlarge the breach "through which Ashby was pulled. As the smoke became denser and the heat fiercer Jacobs was seen to get weaker and weaker, and finally he fell back into the flames and was lost to view. Then floor after floor gave way, and although tons of water were directed upon the place where he seemed to fall, no trace of him was seen at the time. When the fire had been extinguished the firemen entered the hot ruins and found all that remained of their comrade. The trunk and head were badly charred, and the lower limbs had been completely burnt away by the fierce heat. Near him lay his brass helmet, made almost shapeless by the action of the fire, and further away the explorers found some portions of his feet. The remains were reverently conveyed to the mortunary.