The fatal fire at Deptford was as
sad in its consequences as the calamitous conflagration at Bethnal Green. We give
a photograph of the fireplace of the room at 35, St Johns Road, Deptford, taken soon after
the melancholy disaster on the 5th inst. At the inquest on the
bodies of Thomas Aberthell aged 4 years; Amy, 3 years; Lily, 18 months, and Rose, aged four
months, the four children who were asphyxiated in the
fire, Lillian Aberthell, the mother, deposed that she left them sitting in the
kitchen while she went to fetch some fish for her husband’s tea. When she had
been away for about a quarter of an hour she returned, and was horrified to
find the kitchen in flames. There were several people there, but apparently no
one had made an attempt to save the children. She at once rushed in and succeeded
in bringing out the two youngest but they were apparently dead. The Coroner
commented on the carelessness of the parents having matches about in the way of
the children as children were not able to appreciate the danger of fire, and
would get matches whenever they had a chance. The Jury returned a verdict of
accidental death.
