ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4909, 27 March 1894, Page 1

ACCI DENTS AND FATALITIES.

[Special to Press Association.] LONDON, Mahch 2G, A family of five wore burned to death in Clerkeinvell by tho upsetting of a paraffin lamp. PAEIS, Mabch 2G. An aeronaut, who ascended at Cannes, was carried oufc to sea and drowned in full view of a thousand spectators.

Mr F. W. Smith met with an accident at the Oval, Geraldine, on Friday. He was attending a cricket match, and whilst conversing with aome friends, a hard-hit ball Btrutk him just above the right eye, inflicting a severe gash, and exposing the bone. Dr Hislop as quiokiy a3 possible dressed the wound. An inquest touching the death o£ Mrs Hull, who died suddenly on Sunday was held at tho Eichmond Working Mon'e Club yesterday afternoon, before Mr B. Beetham, coroner, and a jury of whom Mr W. Triba was chosen foreman. Dr Townend, who had made a post-morteni examination, stated that death had resulted from syncope, accelerated by fatty degeneration of the hettft, liver and kidneys. A verdict; in accordance with the medical testimony was returned.

FATAL FIEE AT OXFOED. A fire, attended with fatal results, occurred at West Oxford yesterday morning, the victim being Mra Elizabeth Marah, who, with her two children, resided at the house of her father-in-law, Mr Isaac Marsh. At 2 a.m. the children aroused Mr Q. A. White, stating their mother had sent them to tell him their house was on fire. On arriving there Mr White found the north-west end fey a strong north- weau wind. He 'shouted but could make no one hear, and then went round the house, bat found it impossible to enter. Messrs J. Candy, H. Blank and C. Fowke shortly afterwards arrived, and Mr Masßh was seen lying in tha garden, having got out of the window. He was at once removed to Mr Candy's residence, and Dr Weld was sent for. By this time another house on the opposite aide of the toad also belonging to Mr Marsh waa seen to be on fire in sis places, but by the aid of the neighbours the building was saved. A search was then made for Mra Marsh,* and when the flainea had abated her body could be seen lying where her bedroom had been. After deluging that parb with water the remains were recovered. The lower limbs, one arm and part of the other were missing, but the face, though charred, was quite distinguishable. Constable Scott, who had been summoned and promptly responded, took charge of the remains, and had them removed to Paget'a Hotel, where they await the inquest. The origin of the fire is obscure, but from the fact of Mr Marsh, who is eightyseven years of age, being fully dressed, and from the habit of Mrs Marsh getting np whenever she heard him about iv the eight, it is thought that she had lit a candle in her own room, and possibly the wind blew the blind against it and thus started the fire. This is a feasible explanation, because the children state that when their mother awoke them her cightdres& w&3 on fire, and she requested them to throw Borne bedclothes over her. Thia they did, and Alice (the elder) went to get another blanket and Harry to get eoaia water, but they wera unable to return and were sent for help. Ii ig doubtful if Mr Marsh will recover, as ha haa received serious burns. Alice Marsh, who is thirteen years of age, has a severe burn on her forehead. Mra Marsh woa thirtysix years o2 age. The ea<3 event has cast quite a gloom over the district.