Biography

The little girl was playing with friends around a fire where tins were being smelted, when her dress caught fire. She rushed away from the fire with her clothes a mass of flames. A man named Harry Smith ran over 300 yards to assist the girl before catching her and managing to pull off what clothing remained. Medical assistance was immediately wired for from Mulwarrie and, on the doctor's arrival, an examination showed that the child's back was charred and the skin hanging loose from the shoulders to below the spine. Her hands were also badly burnt and barren. Both of Mr Smith's hands were also badly burned. Both patients were driven to the Mulwarrie Hospital where the girl lay in a critical condition for 30 hours before passing away the following day. The child's mother was born in Victoria in 1871 to Emily Agnes (nee KINGSTON) and Niels GANSBERG (Birth Registration 22162/1871, Clunes).

The little girl had spent the first 6 years of her life in Victoria and had only been in Western Australia for 8 days.