Superstition Defied; Outbreak Next Day
Art school students at Dedham, near Ipswich (Suffolk) defied a superstition associated with a statue of Buddha when it arrived at the school —-.and the building was severely damaged by fire.
Legend stipulates that “disaster must follow” if the Buddha statue were moved from its pedestal and placed on the ground. Students not only did this, but tossed cherries into its lap. And after the flames had been quelled the statue was the only thing found undamaged.
Many valuable paintings and an entire library of art, collected from all over the world, were ruined. Jump to Safety.
Sole occupant of the building when the alarm was given was a Chinese model, Mr F. G. Lee Kam, who jumped 20ft. from his bedroom to safety. He told a reporter, “I woke up choking. I rushed to the door, but was met by clouds of smoke. I collected my belongings, threw them out of the window, and then jumped out myself. I was unhurt.” A maid, Miss Alice Sharman, who lives next door, called the brigade. She tried to rouse Mr Kam, forcing her way through the front door, but she was beaten back by flames.
She ran for help, and then found he had escaped.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NA19390918.2.140
Bibliographic details
Northern Advocate, 18 September 1939, Page 10
Word Count
209Superstition Defied; Outbreak Next Day Northern Advocate, 18 September 1939, Page 10
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