Up in flames

It seems that the warnings and advice contained in news stories go largely unheeded by those who read them, nor do they learn by example. How many times have we urged caution when using highly flammable liquids for the purposes of lighting!

Carelessness yesterday led to the death of one woman and serious injury to another.

Last night, Mrs Bunaud of 34 Rue Tailbout was in her nightclothes and ready to retire to bed. While she was refilling a petrol lamp, the instrument caught fire and flames spread to the unfortunate woman’s nightshirt. She cried out for help, but assistance arrived too late. Mrs Bunaud died in the conflagration.

Mrs Victorine Lévy, a day labourer of 14 Rue de Birague, was more fortunate. While lighting a spirit lamp, she set fire to her clothes. Help came quickly, but the day labourer was quite severely burned and had to be taken to the general hospital.

L’Humanité, 18 August 1910