Fire and its Tragic Consequences!

Sadly, the three stories in my post today tell of the tragic loss of a paternal first cousin 3x removed in the Hukins family, and two paternal grand uncles in the Connors family; and the trauma that takes its toll on the other members of the family in the aftermath.

Story 1.

Cassandra Hukins (my paternal 2nd Great Grand Aunt) was the seventh child born to my 3x great grandparents James Hukins and Susannah Fullagar.  She was born in England, and lived there until she was almost 10 years old, when her parents made the decision to leave their homeland and travel halfway around the world to Australia.

Arriving in the year 1839, Cassandra was to spend most of her life in the township of Jamberoo, (to the west of Kiama) in New South Wales. She never married, but seems to have spent her days living close to her parents and siblings.  By the late 1880s / early 1890s it appears that Cassandra owned a combined cottage/shop in the village of Jamberoo, and was earning a living for herself.

Sabina Montgomery Hukins was a granddaughter of my 3x great grandparents James Hukins and Susannah Fullagar.  Sometime after the deaths of her mother, in 1878, and her father, in 1885, she moved in with her aunt Cassandra.

By 1901, Sabina, aged 55, had been living in her aunt's home (the combined shop and cottage) in Jamberoo for at least eight years and had apparently been an invalid and bedridden for all that time.  I have yet to uncover exactly what caused Sabina to become an invalid.  I have however found a newspaper item that gives the impression that she kept herself very busy with her creative sewing/crocheting skills.

Kiama Independent and Shoalhaven Advertiser
Fri 5 Jul 1901 p2

Transcript of the last Local and General Items:

"Miss Sabina Hukins (who perished in the late fire at Jamberoo), while the Duke and Duchess of York were paying their visit to this colony forwarded a present to the Duchess of a Nightdress Satchel.

Miss Hukins though bed ridden for many years, amid all her suffering was always busy at some dainty specimen of crotchet work, and it was one of these she forwarded to Government House.

Just a day or two previous to her death she received a kindly acknowledgement through a lady in waiting from the Duchess, and a present of a Testament.

These were also burnt with all her treasures.  Miss Cassandra Hukins who devotedly nursed her niece for many years suffers severely, having lost her home and possessions through the unfortunate occurrence".


I'm not sure what a crocheted "nightdress satchel" would look like, but it sounds quite dainty and exquisite.  Obviously Sabina considered her creation good enough to be sent to the Duchess of York as a gift.

The Duke and Duchess of York and Cornwall (centre) in Melbourne 1901,
with the first Governor General of Australia and his wife

The Duke and Duchess of York (and Cornwall at the time) were in fact the present Queen's grandparents, later to become King George V and Queen Mary.  They were visiting Australia to open the first Commonwealth Parliament in May 1901.


Sadly, Sabina's life tragically ended just a few weeks after receiving the lovely card and present from the Duchess.

Kiama Reporter and Illawarra Journal (NSW),
Wednesday 3 July 1901, page 2

According to the various news reports at the time, Cassandra checked on her niece around 10.00 pm that Saturday night.  She put out the lamp, but Sabina asked for a candle to be lit so she could read a little.

In the early hours of Sunday morning, Cassandra heard cries and some knocking sounds.  She opened the door of Sabina's bedroom and saw the bed and the room in flames.  She must have started screaming in order to alert the neighbours that she needed help, but apparently she attempted to rescue her niece by herself.

I'm not sure what she expected she would be able to do, given that she was 72 years old, but I imagine any concern she might have had for herself was far outweighed about her fears for her niece trapped in her bed.

It seems that Constable Clarke, who arrived shortly after the alarm was raised, had to rescue Cassandra but nothing could be done to save Sabina.

Cassandra must have suffered burns and smoke inhalation from the experience, and perhaps carried scars for the remainder of her life.

She did apparently go blind after the incident.  The cause of this was attributed to the fire.  

Of course, Cassandra also lost her home and all her possessions, and whatever business she ran in the shop which was part of the building she lived in.  Imagine how you would feel if you lost everything - your home, your income, all your possessions and your treasured niece - when you are aged 72 in the early 1900s!!!

Cassandra had obviously been supporting herself with a modest income and home for many, many years and would have been totally devastated by this tragic experience.

Whilst Sabina suffered a horrible end in 1901, Cassandra lived a few years longer.  Her community rallied together to help her get back on her feet.

Sabina had made a will four years earlier, leaving the farm she owned to Dr. Terrey to repay him for his "kindness and professional attendance shown her".  Dr. Terrey then decided to pay 10 schillings a week for life to Cassandra.



He also assisted Cassandra to apply for the old age pension, and the community held a benefit concert giving all the proceeds to help provide her with fresh deeds for her property and the things she needed to live a comfortable existence.





Story 2.
James Alfred Connors (my paternal Grand Uncle) was the sixth child of my great grandparents Thomas Edgar Connors and Susannah Fullagar Hukins.  He was born in the Shoalhaven District and spent his life in that region.  James was Sabina's first cousin 1x removed, and would have known about the fiery incident that took her life, as the extended Hukins family kept in close contact.  He would have been 17 years old when the news reached his family.  James's mother, Susannah Connors nee Hukins (my great grandmother), was Sabina's first cousin.

In 1906 James married Lillian Ruth Brown in Lismore when he was aged 22. That very same year James's brother George (my grandfather) married the sister of Lillian.  The brothers married sisters, and I imagine it would have been a very happy time for the both families.  

Sadly though, James was to die horribly in a fire the following year, when he was only 23 years old.  He was burned alive at his place of employment.

Transcript of the article printed in the Northern Star newspaper:

"The Fire at McDermott's Store.

JAMES CONNORS' DEATH.

CORONER'S INQUEST.

Mr. F. G. Adrian, P.M., district coroner, held an inquest yesterday concerning the death of James Alfred Connors, which occurred subsequent to burns received at the start of the fire at Mr. T. McDermott's bulk stores on Friday, October ll.

Dr. C. Franceschi said that on the Friday previous he saw the deceased at the public hospital. He found that he had been burnt pretty well all over his body, including the neck and face. There were only a few spots that were not burnt. Deceased died about 7 p.m., and the witnesses did not see him then. He saw the deceased first about noon, and then at about 5.30 or 6 p.m. The cause of death was shock resulting from burns.

John Connors said he was a grocer in the employ of Mr. T. McDermot. Deceased was his brother, and was also in Mr. Mc Dermott's employ. On Friday the 11th, deceased was at work in the morning as usual. Witness last saw him before the burning at 5 minutes to 12, when the deceased was leaving for his lunch, which he usually went home for, though at times he had it at the store, as on this day. Some few minutes past 12 witnesses’ attention was drawn to a cry of fire from the rear of the premises. Witnesses rushed out of the back and met deceased all in flames - in fact most of his clothes were then burnt off him. Some of the young fellows had hold of him. He would not stand quiet, but witnesses, with the assistance of some of the others, put out the fire and saw he was badly burnt. Witness had him conveyed to the hospital. All the rear of the bulk store was burning at this time. Witness called for someone to ring up the fire brigade before he went to the hospital. Witness subsequently asked his brother at the hospital, just after arrival, how the fire occurred, and deceased said he went out to the back to boil the can he had for tea. He also took his little methylated spirits' lamp. After filling the lamp with spirits, he turned to go away, and stood on a match which ignited and started the drip of the methylated spirit burning in a flash. He put down the spirit lamp in a hurry to put it out, and in doing so spilled some spirit, which made it worse. He then went to go away when the large cask of methylated spirits exploded. The size, of this cask was 36 gallons. It was the ordinary cask with iron bands. Deceased's life was not insured, and he had no property. He was born at Shoalhaven, and was 23 years of age. He was a married man and had one child.

Charles W. Deutescher, storeman, in Mr. McDermott's employ, said on Friday 11th. inst., he was at the back store about noon. He had previously seen deceased. Shortly after noon witness heard some cries as he was in that part of the main building. The cries were on the other side of the partition from where witness was. He heard cries of "Charlie" three, times, and recognised the voice as being that of deceased. The first two were in his usual tones, but the third cry seemed distressed. At the time of the cry witness had noticed no fire. Before witness could run round to the entrance to the store where the methylated spirits were kept, there was an explosion. The next thing he saw was the deceased apparently blown out of the door of the room one mass of flames. He did not fall. Witness then noticed that the whole of the back part of the building was on fire, including the spirit room and cases in the yard. The first thing witness did was to go to the assistance of deceased, who was screaming all the time, but before he could do anything he run past down the little lane to the main store. Witness, with other employees, attended to deceased, and did what they could to the fire on the premises. The rear of the bulk store was all in flames. Witness closed the front doors to stop the draught. The fire brigade arrived about 15 minutes after the fire started, and the fire was got under, in about 20 minutes.

Thomas McDermott, storekeeper, said he was at the store on the 11th, but had left it a few minutes previous to the fire alarm. He then went back to the premises. He went out, and saw the flames coming from the back store. The deceased had been removed before witness came. Deceased was an employee of witness and had been for about three years. Where the spirit is kept is in a back room at the rear of the bulk store and separated from the general bulk store by a galvanised iron partition. The store is divided into three compartments, and this is the rear one. Regarding the care of the spirit room, there are special instructions given that no one except Deutscher, the bulk storeman, must touch the methylated spirits. Deceased had no right at all to go there, and his duties did not take him there. He was employed in the grocery department. It was customary, to save going to the cask, to have a quantity of spirit bottled, which was kept ready for sale by the ironmongery department, and there was a quantity of the spirit in bottles on the shelves at this time. If the deceased went, as stated, to draw spirits for his lamp, it would be against all instructions. After hearing that deceased had taken a lamp into the store, witness and Sergeant Lewis opened the store, and found the remains of a lamp and billy can close to where the cask would have been. It was on a portion of the floor remaining, which was almost, directly under where the tap of the cask would have been. There was a little spirit lamp in the store kept by the millinery department for heating irons. The one in the store is missing, and these remains are similar to the missing lamp. The bulk store was insured for £100 In different companies; stock in the bulk store was insured for £350, and witness estimated his loss at about £7O0. The fire was got out in about half an hour.

Herbert. R. H. Smith, grocer, in the employ of Mr. D. J. Wilson, said on Friday 11th, he was in Mr. McDermott's employ, and deceased was also in the same employ, He saw deceased last run round the side of the bulk store from the main building. A few minutes later, witness heard him call out "Charlie." He called out a second time, and witness could tell there was something wrong and started to run round. He called out 5 or 6 times after wards, and every time it was more distressful. There was an explosion just as witness got to the corner of the building, and Connors was thrown into the yard - witness thought at the least 6 or 8 feet. Flames and spirits seemed to be thrown out 5 or 6 feet further. Deceased fell and got up and rushed up the yard until he struck the fence, when he turned and ran back, and witness caught him about the centre of the yard and pulled portion of his celluloid collar off and tried to take him down the lane to take his clothes off. The clothes were almost burnt off him, being apparently saturated with spirits. The cask in which the spirits was kept was a wooden one, and it was Deutcscher's duty to draw the spirits. Witness had never drawn any.

Sergeant Lewis stated that about noon on Friday 11th last, he heard the fire alarm, and went to the fire, which was at the rear of McDermott's store. After the fire had been practically put out in company with Mr. McDermott, he went to the Lismore hospital and saw deceased. Mr. McDermott said "How did it happen?" Deceased said he was in the back store room and trod on a match near the methylated spirits. The cask caught alight and burst over him. He said nothing then about the lamp, but witness subsequently heard that Mr. McDermott and witnesses went to the rear of the remains of the storeroom, and at the spot where the spirit cask stood, found the remains of a spirit lamp and billy can.

The coroner found that deceased, James Alfred Connors, died on October llth from the effect of burns, accidentally received on the same day. He added incidentally that the whole accident appeared to be deceased's own fault in going unauthorised to the spirit cask.

Something similar may have been used
by Jame to heat up his billy

So it was a decision to boil the billy to make a cup of tea that ended James's life. Going against explicit instructions from his employer and the usual practice, James decided to take some methylated spirits for himself and went to the store out the back where it was stored.

In his attempt to fill his spirit lamp (which may have looked similar to the one in the picture opposite), he spilt some of the spirits while drawing it out of the cask.  As he turned to walk away, he stood on a match which then ignited the spilt spirits.  He quickly put down his lamp to try and put out the flames, but split more spirits.

This resulted in a larger flame which ultimately resulted in an explosion that burst open the large case of spirits and the whole load ignited immediately.  James was enveloped in flames, but still managed to stumble out into the yard crying out for help.

It's inconceivable that a mundane task, such as making a cuppa, could end a life, but sometimes split-second decisions alter everything.


James's wife Lillian was only aged 20 when she became a widow, and was mother of a six-month old baby.  She re-married the following year and gave birth to another baby in 1911.  Tragically, Lillian died that year, not long after giving birth.




Story 3.

More tragedy was also in store for James's older brother, John, who was there to witness the events of 1907.  John Edgar Connors (my paternal Grand Uncle) worked as a grocer at McDermott's and was one of the people who rushed to put out the flames as his younger brother was staggering around in the yard whilst alight.  John also accompanied his brother to hospital and would have sat with him during the following hours as James clung to life.  He would have been there at the end when James's body gave up the fight.

We now know so much more about how trauma impacts a person's emotional, psychological and physical health.  Back in the early 1900s, I'm not sure people really recognised the full impact of trauma and the stress reactions and responses it triggers.  Whilst some people exhibit resilient responses, others suffer long-term anxiety disorders and far more destructive behaviours.

I do think the story of James's older brother, John Edgar Connors, in the years after the loss of James, tells of a person in a lot of pain and distress.  I am jumping to conclusions, but I think it was likely the result of the trauma suffered when watching his younger brother die in such terrible circumstances.

John Edgar was aged 31 when his brother James died .  At the time John was married and had three children.  Three years after the death of James, John also lost his father and mother in the same year, 1910.  His brother Erice was killed in action during World War 1 in France in 1916.  John and his wife had another two children, but by the time their last daughter was born, things were not going very well.

A warrant was issued for John's arrest in mid 1919, not long after the birth of his last child.  He was charged with wife desertion.

This excerpt from the Police Gazette states that by 1919, John appeared to have a drinking problem and was earning a living in a questionable (probably illegal) way.

He was working as a 'bookie', a registered bookmaker at the races, but it's likely not everything was done according to the letter.

Northern Star Thurs 29 May 1919 p2

John had left his family back in February 1919, and was subsequently found in Murwillumbah, much further north and close to the Queensland border.  He was remanded to appear in the Lismore Children's Court and was apparently allowed bail.  As I haven't found any evidence of incarceration, I'm assuming John somehow paid the money.

The next newspaper articles I found tell of his rather horrendous death.

On January the 10th 1923, John committed suicide on the platform of the Yandina Railway Station, which is near Nambour in Queensland.  He was aged
A magisterial inquiry into the circumstances of his death was held in

Witnesses stated that John had been seen in the train station waiting room waving his arms about, laughing and talking to himself as if "he was mad".  The local hotel keeper stated that John had had a drink in his bar that morning, and had appeared to be recovering from a heavy bout of drinking.


The station master stated:
"... his suspicions were aroused by the deceased's opening and shutting his suitcase a good many times, and looking around to see if any one was watching him.  By and by a shunter told him that the man was talking to himself, and asked if he would have a look at him.  Immediately afterwards, he was horrified to see the deceased deliberately cutting his throat ..."

Constable McAllister, stationed at Roma Street in Brisbane, deposed that he had known John.  He went on to say that "John had left the employ of the Brisbane Tramway Company.  He noted that John was a cheerful, well educated man, and exceptionally fond of women's society.  For some time John had engaged in bookmaking at Brisbane and country racecourses.  He had taken up a position with Charles Gilbert, but had lost the role through drink."  McCallister further stated that during the 12 months prior to his death, John had been "heavily addicted to drink."