WOMAN PERISHES IN FIRE

Taranaki Daily News, 5 December 1930, Page 11

WOMAN PERISHES IN FIRE

/■ ; "■ / .. <•' WELLINGTON HOUSE ABLAZE

ONE MAN SERIOUSLY INJURED,?

DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE

By Telegraph.—-Press Association.

Wellington, Dec. 4.

Caught by flames which were sweeping through a burning building in Oriental Bay shortly after midnight, two people made a desperate attempt to escap e - One failed and was burned to death. She was Mrs. Ellen George Watson,, owner of a building in Hay Street. A boarder, Walter Gray; a married man aged 40, who was unable to descend the stairway,, leaped from the third floor and was seriously injured. He. wais rushed to the hospital. He has head injuries, burns and shock.

The building was -a wooden one consisting of two storeys and a basement. The building was enveloped in flames when the Woman in the house smelt smoke and gave the alarm of fire. The fire broke out in the first storey and mounted rapidly to the-floor above, cutting off the escape of . the two unfortunate people. Mrs. Watson’s room was. just above the seat of-the fire. ;

Mrs. Watson was aged §7. She collapsed near an open/window after a desperate attempt to escape, arid her ' dead body was found by the brigade after the flames were under control. It is surmised she lost her sense of direction in groping through smoke, and appeared at the bathroom window, crying for help. A courageous attempt to rescue her was made by several boarders. A ladder was placed on the kitchen landing, but it proved too short. A younger person than Mrs. Watson might have becn able to reach it. ( , The house was severely damaged -by fire, and water. It was insured in the Alliance Office for £l5OO. Mrs. Watson had a cover of £3OO on her furniture. Part of the house was occupied by Miss Aubrey, whose ..furniture is insured with , the Eagle Star and Dominions Office./ Mrs. Watson was bhe widow of George Watson, formerly the City Council’s chief sanitary inspector.