A TERRIBLE BURNING CASE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7292, 3 January 1902, Page 3

A TERRIBLE BURNING CASE.

. ♦ ' A terrible burning accident occurred near the town of Charlton, Victoria, a few days ago, to Mr John Sanderson, a farmer, residing at Coonooer. Th© old gentleman, who is sixty-two year® of age, and a cripple, having lost his leg in an accident four or five years ago, was returning home at a little after one o'clock, and while lighting his pipe accidentally set Sre to a bundle of clothing which lay in th© bottom of the buggy. He does not appear to have noticed the fire until his own clotbing and the seat of the buggy were fairly alight. A very high wind was blowing, and this fanned the flames, which he vainly toied to extinguish, the whole of his things being burnt on him, and only fragments of his vest, on© portion of Which contained his watch, were found lying abound subsequently, the rest of his things ibeing burnt to a, cinder. His watch, sco-rched by the flames, had stopped at twenty -minutes to two,, and for two hours he was leaning on the fence in fearful agony, unable to help himself and without a stitch of clothing- to cotfcr him, his body being fearfully burnt, and his wooden leg even having fired. Tlie whole of the woodwork- of tne buggy was consumed, even to some cf the spokes of the wheels and the woodwork of the rims, and presented an extraordinary spectacle. Th© wind blowing th© fire away from th© horses, they remained standing against the fence, to which Mr Sanderson had piloted them. Th© injured maai was not found till half -past three. He was taken to Charlton, but was not expected! to live.