FAMILY HISTORY: BOOCOCK
THE SHORT LIFE OF JOHN HENRY CHRISTOPHER HIGSON
| A TRAGIC FIRE: |
| John Henry Christopher was accidentally killed in a fire at his father's shop, the following newspaper item tells the story: |
| ANOTHER FIRE AT HEYWOOD AND LOSS OF LIFE About three o'clock on Saturday afternoon last, a fire broke out in the shop of Mr. John Higson, saddler, Market Place, Heywood. It appears that Mr. Higson was pouring some naptha from a large bottle nearly full, when some naptha ran through the shop floor, and falling on the cellar stove, ignited. The flame, following the direction of the falling naptha, passed through the shop floor and set fire to the whole bottle, which instantaneously caused an explosion, making sad havoc of the shop. The windows were blown out, and in a few minutes the shop was filled with a thick black smoke. One of Mr. Higson's children, a boy, six years of age, was so frightfully burned by naptha that death put an end to his sufferings on Sunday last, a second was slightly burned and John Burton, a journeyman, was severely burned on his arms and neck. Richard Lomax was also burned on his arms. By the active exertions of some of the persons present, and by means of the water works, the flames were extinguished in about ten minutes. - On Wednesday last, an inquest was held before Mr. Dearden, coroner, on the body of the deceased, and a verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned. |
| NOTES: | |
| 1: | From The Bury Times, Saturday, 27 December 1856. |
| 2: | The above information was kindly provided by Joy Seamons. |