Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 23 June 1939

Narrow Escape.

Cecil Robson (16), son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Robson, Dearne Street. Great Houghton, narrowly escaped being badly burnt on Wednesday morning.

Thinking to help his mother on her washday, he got up to light a fire. He took a bottle of petrol and dipped the end of a stick in and pushed it under the copper.

Evidently some petrol trickled on his hand and as soon as the stick burst into flame the flames passed down his arm. Greatly alarmed he flung the bottle of petrol under the cooper and it instantly flared up.

A large chest containing bedding and woollen blankets which stands near the copper in the kitchen caught fire. The boy pulled it away as far as he was able.

G Rollins and C. A. Smith, who were working on the roof for Mr. Hammerton, of Darfleld, at the time, saw smoke emerging from the back door and hurried down. With buckets of water they soon put out the fire.

Fortunately the boy was not hurt and the wooden chest was only scorched.