GIRL’S FEARFUL DEATH

Taranaki Daily News, 27 December 1929, Page 13

GIRL’S FEARFUL DEATH

ENTRAPPED IN A FIRE. HEROIC EFFORTS AT RESCUE. One girl was sufleated by the fumes in a burning building before the flames reached her, ami another leapt to safety just in time, when the Filmcraft Studios, at Woollooniooloo, Sydney, burst into flames recently. Fed by the inflammable films and the chemicals that were used in the building, the fire spread with incredible rapidity, and the heat was so great that after the first few seconds the building was unapproachable.

Lucilla Edna Langford, aged 22 years, of W ver ley, was trapped in an upstairs room, and she was probably dead from fumes and heat before anyone could have reached her, had it been possible for a rescue party to enter the building. She ran to the least affected part oAhe second floor, and was found lying in the centre of the floor, with her light dress only slightly burned, but. her lips were black and discoloured from breathing the poisonous fumes from the burning chemicals. When the firemen entered she was dead. Mr. Roy Moate, who was employed in the laboratory of the studio, and Mr Joseph Losh, who saw the first signs of the fire, attempted vainly to enter the pn rises. Mr. Losh ran from his grocery store on the opposite corner of the street and tried to open the front door, but'it was locked, and he was driven back by- the terrific heat. Mr. Moate climbed to the roof of an outhouse and fought his way through the flames. Driven back several times he still battled bravely to get to Miss Langford, whose agonised screams drove him to desperate efforts. However, he was worn down by the frightful heat, and, finding it impossible to approach the girl, he staggered out in a condition of collapse. Mr. Jack Richards also suffered from the effects of the smoke and fumes. Both he and Mr. Moate were weak and visibly suffering from shock, and were conveyed to the Sydney hospital. Several fire brigades stormed the building. Every means of adm.ttance was tried, but the firemen were unable to enter until they had subdued the x.ames to some extent. Although they felt certain that the girl was already dead, they did not relax their efforts, and a party of six men fought their way step by step through the smoke and flames until they reached the room where she was lying.