THE FIRE KING.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XI, Issue 25, 19 October 1883, Page 27

THE FIRE KING.

The Fire King has been raging furiously of late in every part of the civilised world, and without respect of persons or buildings, but none of his ravages commands a more immediate and instinctive compassion than the sad occurrence at Southall, near Oxbridge. Dr. Boyd had there a lunatic asylum for private patients, and the house was full of occupants, and amongst them were Dr. Boyd himself, his son, and another relative of his own name and profession, with three daughters. About two o'clock on Tuesday moraing a fire broke out in the building, and before any of the inmates could be aroused the flames had gained an all bat com olete masterj of the premises. It is horrifying to relate that Dr. Bojd and his son perished in the conflagration, but ie is in some sense consoling to add that they nobly sacrificed their lives in the heroio endeavour to rescue some of their helpless jtrategis. It is feared that altogether six persons have perished. The doctor himself was once seen to emerge from the burning pile— it was when he carried his daughter in his arms out of the flames and lowered her by a ladder to a place of safety. Then he faced back again to the heart of the burning, in the hope of saving others, and was never again seen alive. Alongside him bravely fell his son and Captain Williams. The other Dr. Boyd escaped at the last by jumping from a high window. He sustained some severe injuries from the effort. His daughters were rescued, we know not how, but are said to be lying in a critical condition. The hapless and unconscious inmates who were saved had wonderfully narrow escaoM. and were rescued as if by miracle. The friendliness of the neMßours to the imbecil* was most spontaneous and touching. All wer^on the spot provided for and comfortably housed — the females by Miss Rosser, of the Shrubbery, and the males by the landlord of the Red Lion Hotel. A fire in an inhabited building is appalling enough, even with every help of science and courage — and lunacy is harrowing enough with every aid that love and skill can bring to Boften it. But a fire in a lunatic asylum is about the ne plus ultra of conceivable horrors. Possibly it is the most appalling, the most harrowing of all accidents, possessing every element demanding sympathy, succour, commiseration, and heroism. In yesterday's catastrophe all those noble qualities were present in abundance and exercised with a determination, an unselfishness, and a bravery deserving the highest commendation. The Southall people all round seem to bave stiiven to do their utmost need of help in the sudden and dire emergency. The Southall railway station officials exerted themselves with a most commendable and well directed alacrity, and doubtless the comparatively small loss of life is owing to their active interposition. There were about twenty inmates in the house when the fire broke out.— Dublin Freeman.