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Fire deaths and disasters REPORTS CULLED FROM THE LOCAL
1819: SHOCKING ACCIDENT BY FIRE: A woman of the name of Moysey, of Bourne, a few days ago left two of her children at home whilst she went on an errand to a neighbour's: on returning in a quarter of an hour and opening the door, a dreadful spectacle presented itself to the distracted mother - the eldest girl, aged 5 years, lay stretched on the floor a lifeless corpse, every part of her clothes being entirely burnt, and the child scorched in a most dreadful manner: the younger child escaped. How the accident happened is not known, but it is supposed that a chair with some linen on it caught fire and that the deceased in endeavouring to extinguish the flames fell a victim to the devouring element. Verdict of a coroner's jury, "burned to death by accident". - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 1st January 1819.
1820: An inquest was held at Morton, near Bourne, last week by Mr Edwards, coroner, on the body of a child named Thomas Scott, aged three years, who being left by his mother in a room where there was a wood fire upon the hearth, fell backwards on the burning embers and was so much burnt that he died in a few hours. Verdict accordingly. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 14th July 1820.
1825: An inquest was held at Bourne on Monday last by S Edwards, Gent., coroner, on the body of Eliza Arnold, a child aged seven years, who being on the preceding Wednesday left by her mother for a quarter of an hour, was burnt in so shocking a manner from her pinafore catching fire, that she died in great agony the next day, notwithstanding prompt surgical assistance was procured. Verdict: burnt accidentally. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 25th February 1825.
1829: Mr Mastin held an inquest in the parish of Bourne on the 16th inst. on the body of a child named Mary Sharp, aged 6 years, who had been left in the house with another girl somewhat older while the mother, who is a widow, went into the fields to glean: the poor child in reaching a pot upon the fire set her clothes in flames which injured her so much that her sufferings terminated in death the next day. Verdict, accidental death. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 25th September 1829.
1831: On Wednesday the 19th inst., an inquest was held at Morton, near
Bourne, by George White, Gent., coroner, on the body of Ann Elizabeth
Younger, a child four years of age, the daughter of John Younger, of the
same place, labourer, who on the preceding Saturday was holding her tidy
and dry [indoor clothes line] before the fire, her mother having gone into
the garden, when her clothes accidentally caught the flames: she ran into
the street but the fire could not be extinguished until her clothes were
nearly burnt off. Medical assistance was obtained, at first with some hope
of success, but she died the following day. Verdict, accidental death.
1842: A fire, attended with mysterious circumstances, occurred at Bourne on Sunday morning last, on the premises occupied by Mr Joseph Cupitt, carpenter and builder, in South Street, which totally destroyed the workshop and dwelling house, and damaged considerably the adjoining property before it could be arrested. The first appearance of danger was at 5 o'clock on Saturday afternoon when one part of the interior of the workshop was on fire: this, however, was shortly subdued. Again at 10 o'clock at night flames were discovered, and again were soon suppressed. The premises were watched during the rest of the night; but, strange to say, not more than half an hour after the parties employed had retired, the whole place was on fire: though at a quarter past 6 no smell or appearance of fire could be observed, at 9 the premises were burned to the ground. The property was insured in the County fire office. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 3rd June 1842.
1843: A fire was discovered at Thurlby, near Bourne, on Friday last in a straw stack belonging to Mr Goodacre which was supposed to have caught fire from some tramps smoking near it. The flames were speedily extinguished. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 25th August 1843.
1844: A fire broke out yesterday afternoon in a straw stack upon the premises of Mr Robert Browning, of Thurlby Northorpe, near Bourne, supposed to have been occasioned by a spark from a pitch kettle just taken from the fire to brand some sheep. By the great exertions of the neighbours, it was extinguished before the arrival of the engine from Bourne. Two straw stacks and some farming implements were consumed. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 14th June 1844.
1850: THE MELANCHOLY EXPLOSION AT BOURNE: The town was under most painful excitement on Tuesday evening from the circumstances of an awful explosion which took place on the premises of Mr William Sharpe, watchmaker, of South Street. He had just returned home and was in the kitchen preparing his camphine lamp for the night, and had for his assistance his son Josiah, a youth of 13 years of age. He had poured a quantity of naptha into the lamp and the poor boy was looking with a candle in his hand to ascertain whether the lamp was nearly full when it would appear that the flames of the candle came into contact with the fiery liquid and immediately a scene the most awful and confusing was exhibited. It is supposed that the naptha spilled over the youth as the flames adhered to him with surprising pertinacity. Mr Sharpe succeeded in forcing his way out but immediately returned to rescue his children. He succeeded in dragging Josiah into the street but only as a burning mass of fire. Two other children were taken through a window without injury. Mrs Sharpe too escaped, but with her apron on fire which was speedily extinguished without her suffering much and the youngest child, who was still in the blazing labyrinth, for by this time the flames had spread over the lower part of the house, was saved miraculously by a neighbour who broke a window to get in. The alarm brought all the neighbours to the aid of the sufferers and the engine was promptly on the scene and the fire soon extinguished. The poor boy, an intelligent and respected youth, was conveyed to the Nag's Head Inn where, notwithstanding the most attentive medical aid, he lingered for a few hours in the most intense pain and then found a refuge in death from his sufferings. An inquest the following Thursday returned a verdict of accidental death when the jury said that all vendors of similar inflammable liquids should place on the vessels a caution to the public against the dangers of its use. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 25th January 1850.
1851: We regret to announce a sad accident by fire on Monday night last, to the schoolmistress of the Bourne Union [workhouse]. It appeared that on Tuesday, the Government Inspector of Schools was expected on which visit the superiors are examined as well as the children. Miss Whitehead had retired to her room and had been studying for the ordeal: having fallen asleep, her clothes by some means caught fire and she was awoken by the flames spreading round her. The young female was seriously burned before the fire was extinguished. Mr G O Munton, surgeon, was immediately sent for and we are happy to add that Miss Whitehead is doing well. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 14th November 1851.
1851: On Tuesday night last, about nine o'clock, a fire broke out on the premises of Mr Jacob Herringshaw, of Tongue End, near Bourne, and destroyed a barn containing implements of husbandry and an oat stack. We are glad to hear that the property was insured. The Bourne fire engine was promptly on the spot and rendered good service. A wheat stack was within 2 or 3 feet of the oat stack and was not saved without great exertion. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 5th December 1851.
1855: An inquest was held on the 8th inst. by Mr William Edwards, coroner, at Haconby, near Bourne, on the body of William, the son of Ann Sturges, aged about two years and a half. In the momentary lapse of his mother, the child went too near the fire, its clothes ignited and were quickly a heap of flames. His grandmother was in bed in the same room, almost helpless, and in her futile attempt to rescue the suffering child, she very nearly fell a sacrifice to a similar fate and was much burnt about the hands and face. Indeed, her life was saved only by the promptitude and courage of a neighbour who rushed in and took means to extinguish the fire which would soon have destroyed the house also. No blame appeared to attach to anyone and a verdict of accidentally burned was returned. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 16th February 1855.
1855: On Saturday evening, Henrietta Arden, the six-year-old daughter of Mr William Arden, a wine and spirits merchant, of West Street, Bourne, with two other children, was left in her bed gown in the nursery, which is upstairs, whilst the servant went below for a few minutes and notwithstanding the fire was protected by a guard, her clothes ignited and before the flames could be extinguished, the upper part of her body was so severely burned that death resulted the next morning. A verdict of accidental death was recorded by the coroner, Mr William Edwards, when an inquest was held at the Golden Lion, the following Monday. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, 2nd March 1855.
1856: An accident of a fatal character occurred in the Union house [workhouse] at Bourne on Thursday evening. A little girl about 13 years of age, Mary Green, was awfully burnt, the flames having seized her clothes whilst she was kneeling before the fire, and such was the nature of the injuries that she died the following morning. The little girl had been employed for several months in the master and matron's apartments, in consequence of her general good conduct, and for the purpose of training her to such habits of usefulness and industry as would fit her for service. An inquest was held in the boardroom on Saturday the 19th, before Mr William Edwards, coroner. Verdict: accidentally burnt. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 25t April 1856.
1872: SERIOUS FIRE NARROWLY AVERTED: On the afternoon of the 26th ult, a fire broke out on the premises of Mr J B Roberts, chemist, of North Street, Bourn. It appears that an apprentice, George Story, was preparing a mixture of turpentine, beeswax, and other ingredients, over a gas apparatus (similar to those used for cooking) on the counter of the shop. It is supposed that on moving the pan containing the preparation, the fumes came into contact with the flame from the gas, and were instantly ablaze. The youth had the presence of mind to run out of the shop with it, but, in doing so, he spilt a portion upon his right hand and the right leg of his trousers, and upon the shop floor, by which the floor and the youth's clothes were set on fire and his hand and leg burned rather severely. He is said to be progressing favourably and probably will be able to return to his occupation in the course of a short time. The fire upon the floor was at once extinguished and the damage to the shop was very little. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 3rd May 1872.
NOTE: The incident did not affect Mr Story's career because in April 1877,
he received a certificate
1880: GIRL BURNED TO DEATH: An inquest was held at the Union-house [workhouse], Bourne, by Mr Jennings, coroner, on the body of Mary Ann Musson, aged 13 years, who had been accidentally burnt in the fever ward on May 3rd so that she died on the Sunday week following. A very close examination as to the accident took place before the Board of Guardians on the 9th inst, respecting the culpability of the officers: the board were unanimous in exonerating all parties. The surgeon reported that the attention of the matron and the schoolmistress to the poor sufferer was exemplary. Verdict, accidentally burnt to death. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 24th May 1880.
1880: ENVELOPED IN FLAMES: On Tuesday, an inquest was held by Mr Henry Beaumont Esq., coroner, at the Plough Inn, Horbling, on the body of Emma Bullymore, aged 7 years, daughter of William Bullymore, a labourer. It appeared from the evidence that Bullymore's housekeeper (he being a widower), on Monday morning left the deceased in charge of several other children whilst she went to milk for a neighbour, and during her absence the poor girl, it is supposed, attempted to dress one of the younger children, when her frock caught fire and she was quickly enveloped in flames. Her cries rapidly drew the attention of a person residing near who rendered all the aid in her power. Surgical assistance was sought but the child died before it arrived. A verdict of accidental death was returned. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 12th November 1880.
1889: BURNT TO DEATH: An inquest at the Crown Inn at Dyke on Monday 4th March 1889 was held by the coroner, Mr Joe G Calthrop, touching the death of Mrs Ann Nixon, aged 81, wife of Richard Nixon, a roadman. Ann Lunn, a spinster, who lived in the adjoining cottage next door, said that about midday on Friday, she heard a knock on the wall and replied with two heavy knocks. "I immediately went next door and found the deceased on fire", she said. "Her garments were in flames. I at once picked up the door mat and tried to extinguish the flames, calling for help at the same time. Mary Lunn, who lives a few doors off, then came to my assistance and we managed to put the flames out. We tore the deceased's clothes off and put her to bed. We then sent for a doctor. Mrs Nixon was a cripple and was sitting near the fire in the front room when I went in. I know she had been reading a newspaper. I cannot say now whether deceased told me it was through the newspaper catching fire or her apron. Mrs Nixon lingered until Saturday night at 8'oclock when she died." Mary Lunn corroborated and added: "Mrs Nixon told me she was sitting against the fire when a newspaper she was reading caught fire. On examining the hearth, I saw the ashes of the newspaper." The hearing was told that Mrs Nixon had been infirm for several years. The jury, sitting with Mr W Barker as foreman, returned a verdict of "accidentally burnt to death". - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 8th March 1889.
1892: A boy who was in the habit of lighting the fire in the mornings at his home in Bourne accidentally set light to himself and burned to death, an inquest at the Crown Hotel was told on Wednesday afternoon. He was William Reed, aged 9, and his mother said that on the Sunday before, he had come down as usual dressed in his shirt with a cotton undershirt beneath. Between 7.30 and 8 am, she heard screams of "Fire" and at once ran downstairs and found the boy in flames which she tried to extinguish, badly burning both of her hands. Paraffin oil was not used to light the far, in her knowledge, she said, but admitted that the can in which is was kept was not in its usual place by the fender. Ellen M Tabor, wife of George Tabor, a bricklayer's labourer, who lived next door, said that she heard the screams of "Fire" and Mrs Reed crying out: "Oh! Willie is burnt! I am sure he is dead!" She ran into the house and met Willie running upstairs in flames but she stopped him and extinguished the flames. He was burnt all over and she applied lard to his wounds but the skin peeled off whenever she did so. The boy told her that a piece of stick had flown out of the fire and caught his shirt while he was sitting on the fender. He had used paraffin to make the fire blaze, even though he had promised his father never to meddle with it. Dr Brown, of Bourne, told the hearing that the boy was put under his care suffering from extensive burns such as would result from a burning, clinging garment. He had noticed the smell of paraffin but this may have been the pungent odour of the oil he used for dressing the wounds. The boy was not in a fit state to give any explanation as to what had happened and he died from congestion of the internal organs arising from shock to the system. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 8th January 1892.
1895: An inquest at the Crown Hotel, Bourne, on February 24th was told that a three-year-old child, Rose Ellen Makings, had died from burns sustained at her home the day before. Her mother, Kate Makings, of Dyke, told the hearing that she had gone to her next door neighbour's house to wash the stairs, leaving the girl in the house with another child. They were playing in the front room. There was a fire in the kitchen with no guard and they could get into the kitchen. Somebody told her the house was on fire and on going round, she found it full of smoke. The child was lying on the floor in the front room with her clothes nearly burnt off and she had burns all over her body. She died at 3.30 pm. Verdict: death from burns accidentally received. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 1st March 1895.
1939: DUNSBY BURNING DRAMA - POSTMISTRESS IN FLAMES IN GARDEN: Neighbours told an inquest how they saw the 72-year-old postmistress at Dunsby, Mary Elizabeth Nicholls, running around screaming in her garden in a mass of flames 15 feet high. A neighbour, Ellen Hunt, said that Miss Nicholls managed the post office by herself although her nephew called occasionally. Thomas Henry Adams, who lived opposite, said that he was going to bed at about 10.45 pm when he looked out of the window and saw the light in the post office being switched on and off. An hour later, he heard screams and saw a human being on fire. "The flames were very high, about 15 feet", he said, and he ran as quickly a possible to the deceased's garden and put a rug around her but she appeared to be dead. Walter B Creasey, a Post Office official, said that during the past ten years that he had known Miss Nicholls, he had found her a very conscientious worker. The telephone system was to be altered on Thursday morning and Miss Nicholls was upset about the new automatic system that was to replace it. She had already sent in her resignation due to ill-health. The accounts were in perfect order. Police Constable Linguard of Morton, who arrived soon after 12.10 am, said that the body badly burned from the hip upwards. He subsequently found the deceased's clothes in the house and in the garden was a tin of paraffin, practically empty, and a half empty box of matches. He also found an envelope containing a card lying on the table in the room at the rear of the post office but the coroner, Major C W Bell of Bourne, said that he did not propose to read the message written on the card because he did not think it was in any way conclusive or could help the matter further. He returned a verdict that Miss Nicholls died from shock caused by multiple burns accidentally sustained. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 9th June 1939.
COMPILED AUGUST 2013
See also
A quick puff and a big fire The lesser of two evils
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