TRAPPED IN BURNING HOUSE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143782, 4 May 1912, Page 7

TRAPPED IN BURNING HOUSE.

WOMAN OF 80 CLIMBS ON ROOF,

Exciting scones were witnessed at a fire at tho shop and residence of Mr. Herbert Bennett, tobacconist, Bolton, England. 'Dio household consists of Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, three young children, and their grandmother, who is eighty years of age. In the early hours the family were aroused by a passer-by, who noticed tho shop was in flames, "While the fire brigade was being brought neighbours checked the fire wit h buckets of water, and •rendered assistance to the family, who had some thrilling escapes. They found it impossible to make their exit downstairs, and had to leave by a hack window, and descend from the scullery roof by a ladder brought by a ■ neighbour. All the inmates were in their night attire, and sought shelter in neiglibour’s houses. Mr. Bennett told a press representative that he was aroused by a knocking and shouting. “I could smell something burning,” he said, “and 1 shot up the window. I then awoke the children and carried two of them, aged five aud two, in my arms. I tried to descend the stairs, but was driven back, and some of the ptopic in the street wanted me-to drop tho children to them. I told them to go round to tho back, and wo all got through tho back bedroom on to tbo roof tno scullery. “Even tho old lady, eighty years of ago, was assisted on to tho roof, and wc were all in our night attire. By tills time there were plenty of helpers, and I handed tho children down to them from tho roof, and my wife and I descended a ladder which Mr. Wright, a next-door neighbour, had brought. The children’s grandmother was “assisted along the scullery roof to tho back window of the next house, and was assisted into tho room.” Meantime the fire fire brigade, under Superintendent Bentley, had appeared on tho scene, and the flames in the shop wore quickly extinguished. Tho stock was considerably damaged.

There was clear evidence that burglars had boon at work upon the premises. The kitchen window was found half open, and the kitchen was in a state of chaos. Drawers had been ransacked, and their contents scattered about the floor, and drops of tallow were about the bouse and in the shop. A door at the foot of the stairs was barricaded with a sewing machine which had been brought from under the window, and the poker had been used to wedge another door leading to the stairs passage. The children’s money hexes were found prised open, and the contents had been abstracted.

The general supposition is that the burglars accidentally, ignited some paper and matches in the shop whilst at work behind the counter, and then hurriedly made their exit through the window at the back.