Mexborough and Swinton Times April 21, 1906
Child on Fire at New Conisborough
Neighbours Prompt Action
Complemented by the Coroner
on Thursday, April 11, Mr F.E.Nicholson, coroner, held an inquest at the Denaby Main Hotel, relative to the death of Mary Alice Parsons, aged three years, child of John Parsons, Miner, 16 Firbeck Street, New Conisborough, who died the previous day from the effects of burns, received on 31st ult.
Annie Parsons, mother of diseased, said the accident happened on March 31, when she sent the child to her auntie’s at number 8 Cusworth Street, with a message, to come and wash the floors, to help the witness. Deceased stayed in the house, with her cousin, whilst Mrs Twist came to the house to help witness to do the cleaning. After the accident, Mrs Ridley, a neighbour, told witness about it..
Dr Summerville and Foster attended deceased right up to the time of her death. She was burnt on her right arm and face, and the doctor said death was due to the burnt. “The little lass that is dead told me, when I asked allow it was done, ‘Mammy, I could not help it, I was lifting the kettle lid off the fire when my pinafore caught alight.’”
Witness in reply to the coroner said she had no fire guard at home, but that her child, which she had lost, was the only one she had. She had never played with fire.
Alfred Twist, 8 Cusworth Street, who was in the house with his cousin, the deceased, at the time of the accident, said they were left alone when his mother went out to go to his auntie’s. Deceased was lifting the lid off the kettle, which was on the fire. Her pinafore caught fire, and witness ran in and told Mrs Ridley, next door. There was no guard to the fire.
Marcy Ridley, wife of William Ridley, miner, 6 Cusworth Street, said she was just getting a dinner when the last witness came, and said “Oh, Missus come in to our house; be sharp, be sharp.” Witness went directly, and met the little girl with her clothes blazing right up. She put the flames out, and ran with the child to Dr Summerville, who attended to her.
The Coroner: You did very well to attend to her so promptly. You almost saved her life, and it is a pity it was not so. You did very well indeed, and there is great credit due to you for what you did for the child.
Addressing the jury, the Coroner said there was no doubt the child’s death was due to accident. That was a third inquest he had held recently within half a mile of where they were, over children burnt to death. He was always preaching the necessity of parents having fire guards in their houses. They were cheap enough and could be bought for about a shilling, but still these accidents were continually taking place. In his opinion the other way of preventing the sad waste of young human life in this direction was the passing of an Act of Parliament for the provision of fire guards.
A verdict of “Accidental Death” was returned.