BURNED TO DEATH

Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1929, Page 13

BURNED TO DEATH

12 KILLED AT CARNIVAL tragic brigade exhibition AGONY MISTAKEN FOR'PLAY HOUSE BLAZES TOO SOON By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Australian Press Association. Received July 12, 7 p.m. United Service. London, July 12. Twelve cadets were burned to death through thb collapse of a dummy house at a fire brigade display at Gillingham park, Kent, last night. A fete was being held in aid of the local hospitals and a dummy house was Built for the purpose of illustrating life-saving methods. The boys were inside representing the occupants. The house caught fire prematurely and the noys before they could be reached.

The building was a wooden structure of throe storeys and contained piles of loose wood saturated with oil in order to make the blaze spectacular. The cadets were caught in a sheet of flame which shot through the roof and spread with terrible rapidity, involving the whole building.

Scoutmaster Newton said there were 15 persons inside the house, including cadets and boy scouts. Several were dressed as clowns and one as an old woman, the idea being to give a touch of comic relief.

Firemen dashed among the debris pulling out dead and A searchlight was turned on and ambulances rushed up. The Mayor of Gillingham witnessed the tragedy and. was heartbroken.

People watching the antics of the clowns and other occupants thought their gestures and -cries were part of the fun. Even when the flames were at their height some did not know lives were being lost. It is considered likely a dropped cigarette or match caused the fire.