Married Woman Burned to Death

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 186, 7 August 1941, Page 8

Married Woman Burned to Death

HUSBAND INJURED AUCKLAND, Aug. 6. A fire tragedy occurred at Ward Terrace, Sandringham, shortly after 1 o’clock this morning, resulting in the death of Mrs Grace Lord, aged 26, and injuries to her husband, Mr William Lord, aged 34, engineer, both of whom came to Auckland from Helensville a fortnight ago. A neighbour returning from work at 12.15 noticed nothing unusual, but was awakened later by calls for help. He saw the Lords’ home afire, and the brigade was called. Four engines arrived and got the fire under control almost immediately. Mr Lord had struggled out of the burning building with burns on the face, back and head, but had not succeeded in getting his wife out. Her body was discovered by a fire brigadesman near the door of a bedroom, which was in the back cf the house. She apparently was overcome by smoke and flames before reaching the bedroom door. Her body was severely burnt. Mr Lord was sent to hospital in a private car and treated in the casualty ward.

The house, an old wooden building, burnt fiercely. As it was totally destroyed, brigade officials state that it is impossible to know the cause of the fire. It is believed a small fire was left burning in the grate in the living room at the back of the house, and it is possible that it may have spread from this.

The husband, Mr William Lord, told a tragic story when the coroner, Mr F. K. Hunt, opened the inquest. He said that when he and his wife retired at 11 o’clock the coke fire was still burning slightly in the breakfast room grate. The bedroom was alongside the breakfast room.

“I was awakened by a crackling noise, and found the room full of smoke,” said witness. “The ceiling, blinds, and curtains were burning fiercely. I jumped out of bed and puked on the light switch, but the light would not come on. On going to the bedroom door I found the hall fuli of smoke. I aroused my wife, who was fast asleep. We were both nearly suffocated with smoke. I helped my wife to . the front door, but found the lock had slipped, and I was unable to open the door. I attempted to get out of the house through the spare room and out of the window. I told my wife to wait in the passage by the door of the spare room, so as to be ready to follow me when I got the window up. “I got to the window and opened it, then heard my wife call. When I called back to her I received no answer, so returned to the hall, which was a mass of flames. I was choking, and had to get out of the house to get my breath. I did not see my wife again. “Neighbours’ efforts to enter the house were unavailing, owing to th# flames. Because of the fact that my wife was found in the bedroom I am ci opinion that she returned there to get he;* clothes, and was overcome by sm« >ke and flames.” The inquest was adpourned sine die