TASMANIA.

West Coast Times, Issue 158, 21 March 1866, Page 3

TASMANIA.

The Late Fatal Accident to Miss Kermode. —We (" Launceston Examiner") take the following particulars relative to this sad occurrence from the "T. M. Herald;"— " The deceased lady, who was upwards of forty years of ago, resided in a house next door to Mr Cook's, at Newtown, Miss Mauley residing with her. About one o'clock on the morning of Tuesday last, an awful screaming was heard in tho house, which aroused the latter lady and tho servants. Miss Manley, as soon as her disconcerted feelings allowed her, repaired to the bedroom occupied by Miss Kermode, and discovered tho unfortu nate lady in flames. We havo been unable to ascertain the exact cause of the accident. It is, however, surmised that Miss Kermode, whoso habit it was to read in her bedroom late at night, was probably reading in bed and fell off to sleep, or while in the act of undressing some portion of her clothing caugh fire, Upon tho shocking spectacle pie senting itself to the inmates of the house Miss Kermodo was instantly wrapped in a blanket, and the burnt part . of her body saturated with oil. DitAguow was sent for without delay, Avho on arrival, and examination of the hapless lady, pronounced the case to be hopeless — in all probability arising to a great extent from the severe shock to the nervous system which is tho invariable consequence to the human constitution from extensive burning. We hpar that the back part of Miss Kcrtnodo's head was dreadfully burned, as also between her shoulders. She until a quarter to two o'clock on Wednesday morning, when .she expired. The greatest sympathy is felt towards the Hon. Mr fyermode in tho painful bereavement he has suffered." By the papers received last night, wo havo the result of the Inquest, which was held on Thursday night ; the particulars uve tho fiamo as givon above. Dr Agnow deposed that when he saw deceased, she

was suffering from the effects of a very extensive burn, extending over tho entiro surface of tho back, from the waist upwards, and over both arms and hands. There were also large patches of burns on the front of tho body, on tho left leg, and right hip. Thero was no pain, and tho mind did not appear to be in tho least affected. The cause of death was tho shock to tho system produced by an injury extending over so large a surface of tho body from burning. Deceased previously to dying told Dr Agnew that on going to bed the previous night, sho had sat clown on tho side of the bed, and fallen asleep, when her dies 1 must have accidentally touched tho flame of tho candle, which was close by. Tho deceased lady will bo buried in the family vault at Ross, according to her express desire. Dbath op a. Centenarian. — A figure so familiar to the oldest residents of Launceston that it seemed to bo one of its tutelary genii has at length passed away. Our obituary records tho death of " John Dell," wliioh occurred yesterday morning. Mr. Dell had attained tho remarkable nge of 102 years and four months, having been born in the latter part of 1763. In his young days — a period so remote as almost to raise a doubt whether ho ever was young — he was a soldier, and in J 788 accompanied his regiment, tho 102 nd, to Botany Bay, in tho first fleet that proceeded to that little known ,but greatly dreaded place. The deceased also took part in the memorable arrest in 1808 of the Governor, Captain William Bligh, previously commander of the Bounty, the crew of which mutinied and sent him adrift in an open boat. The Governor was forwarded to England as a prisoner, and tho deceased Mr. Dell was one of tho guard who had him in custody, About tho year 1810 ho obtained a pension, . and left the service when the star of the first Napoleon was at its zenith, and years before the world was appalled by the carnage of Waterloo. In 1818 lie emigrated to Sydney with his family, and in October of the same year ho arrived in this island, where he became permanently fixed, and obtained several grants of land in tho district of Norfolk Plains. From that period to his death, Mr. Dell had been a resident of Launceston. The deceased was remarkable for his hale and hearty nppearance. At every season of tho year he was to be seen traversing the streets, supported only by a stick, mid standing to converse for lengthened periods with any one who could afford the time to humour the old man's weakness. Three or four years back he suffered severely from influenza, which was very prevalent, but he recovered again, and latterly seemed as well as before. About a fortnight sinco an obstinate bleeding at tho nose camo on, and continued for upwards of thirty three hours ; when at length the hcemorrhage ceased ho was terribly reduced, and though he rallied sufficiently t > get about tho house he never ventured into the street again. Death evidently resulted from the breaking up of an iron constitution suoh as fulls to tho lot of few persons to possess. A century ? What a range for a single life, through what an eventual period, and what a panorama of marvels passed before tho deceased, as steam, electricity, and other results of scientific research wore developed. — " Launceston Examiner,'' March 3.