TRAPPED IN HOUSE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22030, 9 February 1935, Page 23

TRAPPED IN HOUSE

WOMAN BURNED TO DEATH

DAUGHTER'S VAIN EFFORTS

Trapped in her burning home at Lower Plenty recently, say 4 a Melbourne newspaper, Mrs. Agnes Svmes, aged 60, mother of Dr. Stella Svmes, was burned to death. Dr. Syines made desperate efforts to save her mother, but was driven back by the fierce flames.

Dr. Svmes and her mother returned from Melbourne about 5 p.m., and Mrs. Svmes went to the kitchen to make tea on a kerosene stove. While Dr. Sj mes was putting the car away she heard screams, and found that the rear of the house was on fire. She ran to the telephone and called the fire brigade, and then tried to enter the kitchen. The flames were so fierce, however, that she could not enter the room.

On calling to her mother, and hearing no answer, Dr. Svmes thought" that she had already left the house. Dr. Symes then broke a window and escaped. Not being able to find her mother, she made another attempt to enter the kitchen. Her face and hands were badly burned, and the heat drove her back.

When the firemen arrived they found that the water supply was insufficient to operate the hoses. Several firemen donned, masks, but the heat still drove them back. Nothing-could be done to save the house, which was destroyed. Mrs. Symes' body was found in the house. The fire is believed to have been caused by an explosion of the kerosene stove.