Fatal Fire near Dover.
“Tragedy struck Little Farthingloe Farm, two miles from Dover, with a fire claiming the life of labourer Terry and four horses. The stable’s destruction underlines the ever-present danger our agricultural community faces, reminding us of the relentless battle against nature’s unpredictable fury.”
A fire broke out shortly after midnight on Friday night last in the stables of Little Farthingloe Farm occupied by Mr. Tapley about two miles from Dover and resulted in total destruction of a large stable and burning to death of a labourer named Terry and four valuable horses.
It appears from what we have been able to gather since Terry with a mate White were out together drinking the previous night and returning late found the doors locked.
Consequently White “turned in” into the coach house while the unfortunate deceased went to sleep in the stables where the four horses were kept. Not long after White had laid down he saw a glare through the windows and on looking saw the stables all ablaze. An alarm was at once given and a messenger sent to the Dover Police Station for the fire engine arriving there a few minutes after one o’clock.
Horses were at once obtained and the fire engines and appliances soon rattled along the Folkestone Road to the scene of the fire that had at that time a firm hold of the building.
The engine under the direction of the superintendent was soon got into working order, water being obtained from a neighbouring pond and within a couple of hours the fire was extinguished.
At the commencement of the fire it is stated that the cries from the four horses was most heart rendering especially when it could be seen that they could not be rescued.
After the fire brigade had left the premises an examination was made and the body of the deceased was found fewer than one of the mangers and his pipe a spark from which no doubt the cause of the conflagration was within his reach. The body by its appearance and position looked as if the man had been smothered by the smoke from the smouldering straw before being burnt. The four animals were found, two near the door and two by the stalls each having the appearance of having plunged and struggled before death.
It was undoubtedly very fortunate that the fire brigade although in very small numbers were prompt on their arrival. This prevented the fire extending from the stables by the straw and other materials in the yard to the other sheds that would certainly have resulted in the total destruction of the whole farm. The buildings and animals were insured in the Union Fire Office.
On Saturday and Sundays the farm was visited by thousands of townspeople.
Inquest.
The inquest was held on Monday at Little Farthingloe Farm the residence of Mr. Tapley before the County Coroner, T. T. Delasaux Esq. where the following were sworn on the jury. Mr. Edward Broadley (foreman) Messrs E. Tappley, W. Ashman, H. Hobbs, W. Broadley, J. R. Mills, J. Brooks, J. Lincoln, B. G. Castle, E. Tanton.
The first witness Frank White a labourer living at Mr. Tapley’s identified the body of the deceased. He said on Friday evening last he was in company of the deceased at a public house at Dover; witness left him there at 10.30 and proceeded home. When he got to the farm he went into the coach house and went to sleep it being late and the farmhouse door being locked. Witness had a cold, which woke him up between twelve, and one o’clock he then saw a light in the stable window and on going to see found the place was on fire. He immediately alarmed those on the farm. Edward Hoskins a labourer said he saw the deceased near the Alma public house at Dover shortly after eleven o’clock. He walked with him as far as Mr. Broadley’s gate about 30 yards from Mr. Tapley’s farm and then left him. The deceased walked on in the direction of Mr .Tapley’s farm. That was about ten minutes to twelve o’clock. Samuel Woodcock White a labourer living at Hougham who gave his evidence very excitedly deposed to finding the body of the deceased under the manger. The deceased was quite dead and was very much burnt. Did not know if a pipe was found near the deceased. Witness believed the fire was purely an accident.
The jury returned a verdict of “accidental death.”
The report of the police was as follows-
Superintendent Sanders reported that at 1-15 a.m. on the 29th March a man named Hook came on a horse to the Police Station from Mr. Tapley of Little Farthingloe Farm requesting the fire engine to be sent immediately as his stables were on fire. Horses were at once obtained from Mr. Packham and he (the superintendent) with several firemen proceeded to the fire and on arrival found the stables in flames and four valuable horses burnt to death.
The engine was immediately placed in position and a good supply of water obtained from a pond in the farmyard. The fire was extinguished at about 4 a.m. The brigade with the engine then returned to Dover. After daylight upon the premises being examined by the farm servants a man was found under the manger in the stable dead having evidently been suffocated by the smoke and fire. The body was identified afterwards as that of a labourer named Terry belonging to Hougham.
The origin of the fire is supposed to be caused by the man Terry smoking in the stables, his pipe having been found near where he was lying. Brigade in attendance superintendent and six firemen.
Animals and property insured in the Union Fire Office.
April 1884.