MOTHER'S SACRIFICE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 97, 26 April 1930, Page 3 (Supplement)

MOTHER'S SACRIFICE.

REFUSED TO LEAVE CHILDREN IN FIRE,

The storv of a mother who refused to leave her childreu in a burning house was told at the inquest opened at St. Pancras by Sir Walter Schroder, the coroner, on the three victims of a fire in Kenton Street, Brunswick Square, London, lhe dead people were: Mrs. Sarah Brown, a"-ed 48; Miss Rose Brown, her daughter aged 22; and Mrs. Kate Isabella Quail, aged 55, a servant. The two former were killed in jumping to the street, and Mrs. Quail died from shock and burns. 3liss Becky Brown, another daughter, also jumped and was injured. Her sister Gertrude escaped. Mrs. Brown's husband. Solomon Brown, a tailor, said: "My wife woke me up shouting, 'Get out of bed. 1 can smell smoke and there's something cracking. I went down strairs and saw a bright light. I shouted, 'There is a fire! Come down everybody!' My wite said, 'I cannot come down. 1 am going to wake up' Kosie, Gertie and Becky.' I then discovered that I could not get up the staircase again because of the smoke. I rushed along the street and tried to get a ladder from a building, but I could not. The next I saw of my wife and daughter was when they fell to the pavement." Gertrude Brown, aged 19, said: JVl> mother would not come down. She was calling to my young brother, who sleeps in the top front room." _ , ; Sir Walter Schroder adjourned the inquest to enable Miss Becky Brown to five evidence, and also in the hope that some relative of Mrs. Quail could be found.