The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-02-08 00:00:00

BURNT TO DEATH!

The toflowing sad accident occurred at Doncaster early on
Sunday morning
:
Miss Weeks, a highly respectable lady of indepen-
dent meane, residing at 27, Hall-gate, retired to rest
about midnight on Saturday. Although more than
seventy years of ace, she was in the habit of sleeping
alone, awl her maid left her about half-past twelve
nearly ready for bed. It was her habit to read a por-
tion of Scriptures, or a prayer, before getting into bed,
and for this purpose she had removed the candle from
the washstand to the bidet by the side of the bed.
How she set herself on fire, however, it is impossible
to say, but soon after half-past one the servants were
alarmed by the ringing of her bell. One of them im-
mediately went, and found the room in flames. She
rushed back to give the alarm to her fellow-servant,
and then both went into the street and called out
`‘ Fire "
Mr. Walker, surgeon dentist, who resides next door,
was attracted by their cries, and, partially dressed,
went immediately to their assistance. They were in
such a state of agitation, however, that be could
scarcely inake out the full extent of the calamity ; but
proceeding upstairs he found the bedroom tai the first i
floor on fire. Knowing it was Miss Weeks'a room, he
groped his way in, but he was driven back by the
smoke awl heat, for everything appeared in a red
glow. Ile then procured water from downstairs and
threw it into the room, having previowde called out
in the street " Fire ! See !' Policeman Cooper fortu-
nately heard the cry, and at once went to his assist-
ance. With much courage and presence of mind the
officer entered the room, closing the door after him, in
.order to find Miss Weeks, and he found her crouched
in the corner of the room, on the far side of the bed.
Me carried her out on to the landing, and it was found
wise was still alive, although dreadfully burnt.
Dr. scholtield, who lives nearly opposite, and who
had bwo in constant attendance 011 the nnfortnnate
lady, heal in the meantime been amused,. and was
there to frontier every assistance. No medical skill,
however, seas of avail, and the pour lady expired
about half-naet five the same morning.

DREADFUL ACCIDENT ON THE
CAMBRIAN RAILWAY.
Early on Saturday morning a shoeking accident happened
near Caerswe, a mall station on the Cambrian Railway.
after naming Newtown, this railway, making straight for
Llanialors. Crosses the ilideb MS rialrai of the Severn St three
points, lino bridge being at Scale), a second at Caiirawa, and
a third at Ponttiolgoch For some days past the floods have
been gathering from the hilly country west of this portion of
the line 'where the Severn takes its rise, and on Friday the
nriw‘r was full to overflowing, many lat the low-l)ing fields in
tthe vicinity being under water. This is, however, a eirintin-
hitancelif regular occurrence at this tone of the year, anti the
'Olege being built with a lc', knowledge of such acontin-
grnrY, an srpreliension t.f tin .ger was felt by the officials.
About Rix o'Clblek in the In •doirlbe in,- l, ha o for ill.rvwslaity
left Weight not i'ai its j oarni .OWII. . •,•
about half a d' zoo cattle irn,... „ a c.
two paseenger carriaties, and two misrds• vans. iti, fortii-
nately happened that to ea the early hour of the morning at
which thin train runs there Pete no passengers in the car-
riages, the only perSOliv in the train being the engine-driver,
the stoker. a goods guard, an passenger guard, and two cattle
drovers. When, a few minutes after seven aclock, the trio
. reached Caeraws, it was still dark and tainting ill torretto,
nen..ll a wind blowing very high. (le approaching the river
ths driver slackened speed and proceeded at a cautious pace,
hat no sooner had the hill weight of the engine rested en
the bridge than the structure swayed to and fro, and finally
fell in witb a loud crash, the engine anal tender disappearing
beneath 0.. water. Two cattle trucks which led the train
followed the tender, and next came a van loaded with flour,
but in falling over the rear coupling chain of the van broke.
and the vast, standing for a moment upright on the immersed