DREADFUL DEATH BY BURNING.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2151, 25 November 1875, Page 3

DREADFUL DEATH BY BURNING.

'tTlie Queenslander Border Post chronicles a fatal accident from fire of the most heartrending description, which occurred on the 26tli ulfc. to the wife of Mr J. B. Thompson, baker, of Stanthorpe. It appears the unfortunate young woman was engaged in cooking dinner at a fire outside, at the rear of. the shop, and was just in the act of taking off a saucepan when the blaze caught the skirt of the light inuslin dress she, wore, and, finding herself unable to extinguish.it, she rushed to a. large tank,a few yards distant,"with the intention of plunging into the water, but, from the height of the tank, was unable to do so, and immediately rushed back again

to the bakehouse, enveloped in flames, and screaming in the most distressing manner for her husband, who was at the time engaged inside, and, throwing her arms around him in her agony, rendered him almost powerless for a few seconds. He attempted to extinguish the flames^ but his own clothes had also become ignited, having on only a white linen shirt and drill trousers, and, the sleeves, being tucked above the elbow, his arms were very severely burned. In the meantime other assistance, attracted by the screams, arrived, and a blanket was procured and thrown around her, but by this time nearly every vestige of clothes was burnt off the poor creature, and she stood writhing in mortal agony.' Strange.to say, however, although not two squafre inches of her body from the feet tdthe head remained unburnt, she walked without assistance from the shop into her bedroom immediately the flames were extinguished. Dr. Marley was atonce sent for, and all that medical skill could suggest to alleviate the dreadful sufferings of the unfortunate woman was done, but he held out no hope of recovery. Thie appearance of the body is stated' as horrifying in the extreme, the whole 6f the skin peeling off, and the dreadful agony of- the poor woman previousl to the application of the medical remedies will be more easily imagined than • described. After all- pain had left, the sufferer discoursed"ln the most sensible manner, and received the intelligence of her approaching death as complacently as possible, joining in prayer some time afterwards with the Rev^Mr .Richmond, and fully resigned herself to her. fate., In this conscious state she continued during the night and following day, gradually :sinking all the tim*,and expired atabout 1 o'clock. The deceased had only been married about four months* and was only. 17 yeara of