BABY BOY KILLED.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 72, 26 March 1928, Page 5

BABY BOY KILLED.

BENZINE LAMP ON FIRE.

PAXEHTV HOME RUM ED.

GRANDPARENT BURNED.

(By Telegraph.—Special to "St**.")

WHAKATANE, this day.

The ten-months-old son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Skelton was fatally burned about 9.45 last night, when his parent*' residence, in James Street, caught fire. In the house were Mr. and Mrs. Skelton, Mrs. Skelton sen., Mrs. Rolf, mother of Mrs. Skelton, jun., and the baby. They had been out of the house, and on their return Mr. Skelton went to fill a benzine lamp on the table in the sittingroom. It is believed that a candle was placed too close to the lamp, for the benzine caught fire and spurted flames in all directions.

A shower of flaming liquid flew on the pram, in which the child was lying, and the whole room was soon ablaze. The child was rescued, but he had received terrible injuries, and he died before he could be taken to a hospital, which was about a-quarter of a mile away.

Mrs. Skelton, sen., was badly burned about her arms and hands while attempting to rescue the child.

The house, was completely gutted, and all the furniture and effects were lost. There was no insurance on the furniture. The house, which was one of four rooms, was owned by the Treloar Milking Machine Co., of Hamilton, and was insured, but the amount is not known here.