A SIX-YEAR-OLD HEROINE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 38, 13 February 1904, Page 5 (Supplement)

A SIX-YEAR-OLD HEROINE.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, December 24. The heroic deed of little Lizzie Smith, the GJ-year-old daughter of a Kettering ■mechanic, deserves all the publicity it seems likely to set. Late last Saturday uight the mother had occasion to go out to buy some necessaries for the morrow. Lizzie and her little brother, a child of 15 months, were th-en in bed and asleep. In their room alight was an ordinary cheap paraffin lamp, which appears to have exploded and set the bed on fire. Lizzie, wakened by the choking fumes and the rriea of her baby brother, jumped OTit of bed and called lio-r mother. Nobody answering, she mn downstairs and opened the door to —as she afterwards explained—■ '"let some fresh air in, 'eos we were choking with the nasty smoke." Then she ran upstairs again, and fighting her way through the smoke seized her little brother and carried him downstairs. By this time neighbours had arrrved *n the scene, and tiie fire brigade was on the spot. . The firo was soon put out, and all being- safe the little heroine's overwrought feelings found relief in tears. The firemen, who recognised very clearly that but for the ■wonderful presence of mind and courage of the girl baby Smitii must have lost his life, lost no time !n comforting the child-hproiue with the best-dressed doll money could buy at that hour of the day, and the head of the brigade has drawn the attention of the Royal Humane Society to Lizzie's plucky act. II is questionable, however, whether any presentation that body may see fit to make to the brave little, girl will give her half so -ranch pleasure as the i;:i:?:.-haired gift of the firemen.