FAMILY GASSED WHEN ASLEEP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17575, 27 June 1925, Page 8

FAMILY GASSED WHEN ASLEEP.

BROKEN MAIN NEARLY CAUSES TRAGEDY. LONDON. May B. When four people were gassed in a house in Holbeck. Leeds, yesterday, a timely call by a school attendance officer and the efforts of one of the semiconscious occupants to attract attention averted a tragedy. Those who were gassed were: Mrs Annie Spooner. Gladys Spooner (twen-ty-two!. Teresa Spooner (twenty) and George Spooner (nine). The husband. George Spooner, and another daughter, Ada. who went early to work, complained of feeling unwell. Seen by a representative cf the “Daily Chronicle" when she had regained consciousness. Airs Spooner said: I woke up during the night feeling sick and dizzy, but I thought it was only one of my headaches, and went to sleep again. About 7.30 Gladys came into the bedroom, dropped on the floor, and was sick. Then all the others complained of feeling unwell.” AVI-lAT WORKMEN FOUND. “ Alv husband and Ada went to work, and I remember waking up again feeling very bad, ancl knocking on the window to attract attention.” Mrs Spooner's knocks were heard by a neighbour just as the school official, failing to get a response at the door, pushed it open and was met by a gust of gas. Neighbours assisted the occupants from the house, and later workmen located a broken 2in gas main, after taking up the road in front of the house.