BURNED TO DEATH

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 September 1924, Page 3

BURNED TO DEATH

TRAPPED IN BLAZING HOUSE.

A fire occurred at Botany, near Sydney, last week. Four adult members of a family were asleep in their home, which was in flames, when one of them was awakened. He courageously res s ' cued his mother and one of his brothers, but another brother was burned to death. He was trapped on every side by the flames. The man who lost his life was Arthur Lyons, aged 48 years, and the other members of the family were Mrs. Mary Lyons, a widow; Samuel Lyons, aged 34 years; and Alfred Lyons, aged 31 years. Samuel and Alfred Lyons were burned about the face and head. The family Ifeed in a four-roomed weatherboard cottage. Samuel Lyons awoke about midnight to find his room filled with dense smoke, and he could hear the fire cracking in an adjoining room. He sprang out of bed, and ran through a passage to his mother’s room,, which was filled with smoke. He lifted her from the bed and staggered through the front door to the footpath. Returning to the house, he endeavoured to rescue his brothers. He reached Alfred, roused him and half-carried him to safety. Once more approaching the burning building, undaunted by the burns that he had already received, Mr. Lyons ran to the back of the house in an effort to save the other brother. His path was blocked by fierce tongues of flame, and he received severe burns before he retreated, just in time to save his own life. He returned to hitmother and brother, and they were taken care of by neighbours. The fire brigade were unable to save the house, which was razed to the ground.