Child Heroism-1891

LAMB, SMITH

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 7/12/2017 at 22:39:21

Clinton Daily Age - May 6, 1891

Child Heroism

A Little Child Badly Burned
Playing With Fire

One of the most terrible affairs to occur in this city, in a long time-terrible because a little child suffered all the pain–was that of the burning of the five year old son of Phillip Lamb, Tuesday morning at his home on Sixteenth Avenue. It is said the mother left the little fellow, and a younger child, aged three in bed asleep. During the mother’s absence the little boy arose, and began playing with the fire. His night clothes caught from a blaze, and the little body from the hips to the chin were charred and blackened, in a terrible manner. Despite the intense suffering of the child it showed great presence of mind, seldom seen in a grown person, for a while the flames were leaping around him and he went to the water pail and dipping water threw it over the blaze putting it out. Then, hoping to stop the pain the little sufferer climbed into bed and covered up, where the mother found him on returning. Dr. G. A. Smith was called and did all possible to still the pain and save the life of the child, which was resting comfortably at last reports, though the chances of life are very few.