HEROIC SACRIFICE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17035, 8 May 1923, Page 1

HEROIC SACRIFICE.

“ PEEP SHOW ” FATALITY. The fatal accident, to which Miss Phillis Porter, a member ol the “ Peep Show ” company, succumbed in Wellington is said to be one which would not happen again in a hundred years. It is without precedent in Australia and New Zealand. The members of the J. C. Williamson Company received a severe shock yesterday when it was knpwn that Miss Phillis Porter, aged nineteen years, had died as the result of burns sustained to the arm and chest through her dress coming in contact with an electric switchboard. It appears that her dress, which was decorated with tinsel, touched two of the terminals on the switchboard, causing a short circuit. • The dress ignited, and then somebody shouted: ‘‘ Keep away from the other girls.” The girl heroically sacrificed herself for the sake of the others, and made a dash for the stage door, thus accentuating the riames. Several men rushed after her, and by means of coats endeavoured to put out the flames, and these were extinguished in a few seconds. She was immediately conveyed to the hospital, and the stoic way in which she endured the terrible pain was wonderful. While they were making a position for her in the ward her only words were :“ Mr Farrell, can’t you get them to send me to sleep, so I can .escape the pain?” On Saturday her condition was critical, but it greatly improved on Sunday. However, she took a turn for the worse in the afternoon, and eventually passed away on Sunday night. Some of

the members of the company were at the bedside when she.died. Her parents reside in Sydney, and are well known there. One of her best friends was Miss Josie Melville, who recently played “ Sally ” in Sydney. Miss Porter joined the J. C. Williamson Company when quite a baby about eleven years ago, and will be remembered for her singing of the “ Dream Song” in ‘‘Mother Goose.” “Miss Porter was undoubtedly tho most popular member of the organisation,” said Mr J. Farrell, manager of the company, to a “ New Zealand Times ” reporter, “ and the whole company deeply regret her death. She was sweet, quiet ar.d reticent, and quite a talented little artist.” During the tour she was placed under the guardianship of Mias Ada Barbar. who has been with the company for a number of years, and even in her last hours when it was suggested that her mother should be sent for. she replied : “ Don’t do so, because she does not like a scene, and will be very ill.” J