South Yorkshire Times June 2, 1951
Conisbrough Neighbour’s Smart Fire “Drill”
Mr. Cyril Pugh, of 94, Park Road, Conisbrough, had a busy day on Friday. Or rather a busy morning. He did what everybody must long to do—climb a ladder to the bedroom window of a house and save a family of eight trapped upstairs by fire. And then he went back to bed, and later to his work at Denaby Main Colliery.
Dog’s Warning.
The fire occurred across the road from him, at No. 145. It broke out in the kitchen at about 1.30 a.m. It is thought that something fell out of the fire and ignited a pit overall and “Dot” does not like things that pop out of fires.
“Dot” is really the heroine of the story. She and Mr. Pugh share the leading roles.
“Dot” is the pet black whippet of the Lindley family, and she wandered upstairs, frightened, when the fire started. The Lindleys, who live at No. 145, are used to “Dot’s” wanderings, and in fact, always leave the stairs door open for her, and when she does go upstairs—the Lindleys investigate downstairs.
On Friday, however, they were unable to. Smoke and fumes from the fire, which had spread to fire place and cupboard, were too much
Upstairs were Mr. and Mrs. J. A Lindley, senior. Mrs. Lindley, who is 64, had been ill for a fortnight, went straight back to bed when peace had been restored. There were also Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Lindley, (jnr.),—Albert aged 24, and Annie (22), with their two small children, Josephine (3) and Brian (11 months). The other two were Albert’s 19-year-old sister, Mrs. Elsie Hartley, and her baby, Susan (four months). Elsie who lives in Piccadilly, Swinton, was visiting her parents on Thursday, and stayed overnight
Called For Help.
She was in the front room when the alarm was sounded, and opened the window to call for help. A neighbour, Mrs. Edith Exton, heard the call and sent for the police and fire service. “By that time.” said Elsie, “everyone in the row was out.” And now enters Mr. Pugh.
Mr. Pugh heard the cries, dashed downstairs, and got a ladder from his back garden. He was at the Lindleys’ window almost as soon as the top of the ladder, and began carrying the babies down. After the children. “Dot” (“who was terrified”) followed, then Mrs. Lindley senior, until all were safely down.
Put Fire Out.
But Mr. Pugh had not finished then. He and Mr. Albert Lindley broke open the front door (the back one was bolted) and ran through to the kitchen. Between them they put the fire out before it had done more than £20 damage. Conisbrough Fire Brigade, and later Mexborough, were there promptly, but the fire was out by then.
- D.O. Thomas, of Mexborough County Fire Brigade, said that the consequences would have been very serious but for the early discovery of the fire.