Fiery death

As we suffer the rage of bushfires in this summer of 2019, I look back through the family tree to identify several painful deaths caused by burns. These deaths make us pause to consider the pain both physical and mental endured by those who suffer from the ravages of fire.

MARTIN KAIN

When Coleman Kain married Bridget O’Dea in the old church at Pinkerton Plains in South Australia in 1891, his father Martin was 70 years old. Martin and his wife Catherine had been in South Australia since 1857 bringing 5 sons with them on the Lady Ann. Tragedy dogged the family with the loss of two sons. One in 1891 as a result of a railway accident and an 1896 death after four years of illness.

By 1897 Martin himself was quite feeble. A stumble into the fire was to have dire consequences.

HAMLEY BRIDGE, April 5.-A sad accident occurred to Mr. Martin Kain, an old and highly respected resident, aged 80, who is very feeble. He fell into the fire a few days ago and got very badly burnt on the right arm and hip. He appears to have lost all feeling as he was driven into township to-day to see the doctor, a distance of about three miles, and although the road was very rough he did not suffer any inconvenience. The. doctor considers the case very serious. This family lately lost a son who left a widow and several children.₁

On the 23rd April, Martin died from his burns. He was buried on Sunday 25th April in the Pinkerton Plains cemetery.

MARY HOGAN (KITSCHKE)

Mary Hogan was one of six children born to John Hogan and Johanna Horgan. They lived on a farm at Taylor’s Gap between Tarlee and Kapunda in South Australia. When Mary was born in  June of 1868 her eldest sister Hannah was 6, brother Timothy 4, and sister Johannah, 2.

Mary and her baby [twin?] sister Bridget Helen were baptised at St Rose’s Catholic Church in Kapunda on June 5 1868. With 6 children under 7, life for their mother Johannah would have been very busy. Their father John, whom Johannah had married in 1861, was a well respected farmer in the district.

When Mary was 28 she married Anthony Joseph Kitschke. This would have been a happy occasion for the Hogan family as the eldest daughter, Hannah Catherine who was only 23 had died the previous year leaving behind her husband James O’Sullivan with 6 young children.

Mary and Anthony had a farm at Canowie Belt east of Jamestown. Six children were registered as born to them over the next 12 years, but two of those babies died soon after birth. By December of 1917 the youngest surviving child was 6 years old and Mary was now 49.
The newspapers of the day tell the sad tale.

SAD BURNING FATALITY
Mrs. Anthony Kitschke, of Canowie Belt, was washing, and was wearing a hessian apron. Whilst she was at the copper the hessian ignited, and her other clothing caught fire. She tried to roll a table cover round herself, but this also caught fire. Except for a small portion about her shoulders, her clothing was all burnt off. She had no one near to aid her. When Mr. Kitschke came home shortly afterwards he found her on the verandah, terribly burnt. Strange as it may seem, after the burning she got water from the tank and put out the burning fragments lying about the verandah. A neighbor did what she could to relieve the poor sufferer, who lived for 48 hours and was conscious to the last. Possessed of a cheerful, generous disposition, she was highly respected by all. ₂

Another obituary reports:
OBITUARY. MRS. A. KITSCHKE, CANOWIE BELT.
Our Canowie Belt correspondent writes: —Quite a gloom was cast over the district on Wednesday last when it became known that Mrs. A. Kitschke was burnt to death and died on that morning. It appears that Mrs. Kitschke was doing her washing on Monday morning, when her dress became lighted from the copper, and before she could get it under control, she was frightfully burnt. Dr. Aitken was immediately on the spot, but could do nothing beyond making her death easier. Father Doyle attended Mrs. Kitschke during her last few days, and administered the last rites of the Church.

Mrs. Kitschke was a fine strong woman of 49 years, and was respected by everybody. She leaves a sorrowing husband, Mr. Anthony Kitschke, three sons, and one daughter to mourn her loss.
The funeral took place on Thursday and was the largest funeral that went into Jamestown for a number of years. About 80 traps followed the remains. Very Rev. Father Doyle officiated. R.I.P.₃

THOMAS HORGAN

Another death as a result of a farm related fire occurred in 1957.

The death in a Melbourne Hospital in  January of Thomas Horgan was very sad and tragic. Mr Horgan suffered severe burns on November 13 [1956] whilst burning grass at his homestead in Belalie East. He was finally taken to Melbourne for special treatment after spending several weeks in the Jamestown hospital. Mr Horgan was born at Jamestown in 1903 and was a son of Mrs C and and the late Mr John Horgan.

Thomas at age 53 left behind a wife and four young children. He was buried in the Jamestown Cemetery in South Australia.

My thoughts go out to all those who have suffered losses past and present through fire, whether that be loss of life, loss of property or loss of peace of mind. May your community and loved ones support you through difficult times.

---

1. 1897 'ACCIDENT AT HAMLEY BRIDGE.', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), 6 April, p. 6. ,  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article35075051

2. 1917 'SAD BURNING FATALITY.', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), 22 December, p. 7. ,   http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5582519

3, 1917 'OBITUARY.', Southern Cross (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1954), 21 December, p. 15.  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article166984831