Colac Herald (Vic. : 1875 - 1918), Friday 27 January 1882, page 2


DEATH BY BURNING. A sad and fatal fire occurred on Tuesday night at Gambletown, Colac, about eleven o'clock at a cottage occupied by Mrs. Ellen Gamble. wife of Thomas Gamble, green-grocer, in Gellibrand street. No one resided with Mrs. Gamble, except occasionally when one of her granddaughters about six years of age slept in the house with her. For the last three weeks this child had been sleeping regularly with her, but on the night in ques tion the child did no go as Mrs. Gamble was late getting home. She went to her son, George's place, and asked for the child as usual; but, fortunately, it.did not go. She remarked to her son that she had sixpence worth of rum in a bottle, and wanted him to partake of it, but he refused. The de-ceased then left to go home, and it is thought that the candle must have ignited the bed clothes after she had gone to sleep. The first alarm of fire was given by Mr. William Heron, who in company with his wife were returning home from Colac between ten and eleven o'clock. They noticed the extraordlinary bright light in the house, and in a few moments the flames burst through the windows. Mr. Heron at once ran to the house tor ascertain if possible if there was anyone inside: He called out but received no response. He then burst open the door, but as the build ing was one burning mass he was unable to enter. In the meantime Mrs. Heron hurried to some of the neighbors' places and roused up the inmates, but of course nothing could be done to check the flames. The report soon spread through the township, and in. a very short space of time a large crowd had gathered round the smouldering remains., The body frightfully chared was soon dia-: covered,in the debris, but it could, not:be removed as there was not a supply of water at hand. Until the flames had somewhat. subsided no attempt was made to recover the remains, which had by this time been reduced almost to ashes. The only portion. of the body that was not consumed was the upper portion of the trunk, the head and limbs being completely destroyed. 0f course the remains could not possibly be. identified, but the chain of evidence leads to the supposition that the remains are those of Mrs. Ellen Gamble. On Wednesday a magisterial inquiry was held by Mr. Edmund Cooper, and the following evidence was taken :-Mary Ann Gamble, wife of George Gamble, son of the deceased woman Ellen Gamble, stated--I last saw the deceased alive between nine and ten o'clock last evening. She came to my house and asked me to let my little, girl aged about six years, to sleep with her. The little girl had been in the habit of sleeping with the deceased for the last fortnight. As the child had a cold I refused to let her go. She then asked her husband to go down to her house and have some rum. He refused to go. Saw no more of her until Mrs. Herson came to her about eleven o'clock and said that the place was on fire, and asked him if he thought his mother was in the house. Her husband got up and went to the house. I am quite satisfied that the remains now in an adjorning room are those of Ellen Gamble, for there was no one else in the house. To Constable Magor- When she called at my house she was under the influence of liquor. She used to sleep by herself until within the last fortnight; then my child Annie slept with her until the night previous to the occurrence. George Gamble, son of the deceased, stated--I last saw the deceased alive on Sunday last, 22nd instant, at her own house. She was then in her usual state of health. Last night about 11 o'clock I was in bed, and my wife called to me said my mother's place was on fire. I got up im-mediately and went to the fire. When I got there the fire was issuing from the window, and the door was open. Mr. Heron was at the door. The fire was so strong I could not enter the house. Heard no screams nor any noise. The fire had gained such a hold of the house I could do nothing. I then left to go and tell my father, who lives at his shop off Murray street. I believe the remains now in another room are those of my mother. There is nothing on the body to assist my judgment. My mother called to me last night about eleven o'clock to go to her place and have a drink, as she had sixpence worth in a bottle. Declined, saying I wished to go to sleep, and told her to go home. Thomas Gamble, husband of the deceased said- I last saw her alive between five and six o'clock on Tuesday evening last, 25th instant, at my shop, Gellibrand street. There was then no sign of drink on her, and she was looking well. She asked for a bottle of hop beer, which I gave her. She asked for some bread, and I gave her three. pence to get a small loaf as she went home. She then asked for candles and vinegar; I gave her both. She left about half an hour afterwards in company with Mrs. Lennon. I have not saw her since. She usually slept in her house by herself in Gabletown. I believe the remains outside are those of my wife. The deceased was about 55 years of age. Mary Lennon, wife of Patrick Lennon, a laborer residing at Colac stated--I last saw the deceased alive between six and seven o'clock yesterday evening at her husband's shop. Walked with her as far as Mr. Cooper's store, Murray street. She then left me. That was the last I saw of her. She was quite sober when I saw her. William Heron, living at Barongareok, stated-On returning from Colac yesterday evening between ten. and eleven o'clock I saw a bright light in the window of Mrs. Gamble's house, and drew my wife's atten tion to it. On drawing nearer I noticed the fiames bursting out of the window. I at once ran and gave the alarm- my wife going to the neighbors whilst I went to the fire. Finding the door fast I burst it open and the interior was enveloped in flames. I called out and received no answer; I could not enter, the flames were so strong. My rea-son for calling out was I thought Mrs. Gamble might have been in the house. I was speak-ing to her about nine o'clock the same evening not far from her own house. She then seemed perfectly sober. I saw the remains of a body lying on the. embers of the fire about two o'clock this morning. Charles F. Magor, a mounted constable stationed at Colac, stated - Between one and two o'clock this morning, 25th inst., I was informed that Mrs. Gamble's house had been burnt down, and she was supposed to be burnt in it. I proceeded to the fire. When I got there the house was completely burnt down ; the embers smouldering. I saw something in the debris that looked like a charred body. I then proceeded with the assistance of some other persons to remove the remains. We brought them carefully to the house of her son, George Gamble; they consisted of nothing but the charred trunk. I afterwards made a careful search at the fire but could find nothing else. Remained in charge of the body until this morning. Dr. Adam, a legally qualified: medical practitioner residing at Colac, deposed- I have this day examined the charred remains removed hence from Mr. Gamble's dwelling house. Although otherwise unrecognisable, I believe them to be those of a woman probably about five feet in height. From my examination and the evidence of the various witnesses I believe them to be the remains of Ellen Gamble, There is no evidence of external violence. The following verdict was returned by the magistrate:-- I find that the Ellen Gamble, came accidentally - her death by fire.