Women Australia

On Saturday last, between 9 and 10 o'clock at night, Mrs. [Eliza] Kelly, the wife of Mr. Hugh Kelly, of the Half-way-house, Windsor-road, went into the store-room to draw some spirits; on turning the cock, the spirits spouted briskly out, and Mrs. K. having a candle in her hand, the spirits became suddenly ignited, and the flame set fire to her clothes. Her screams brought instant relief, and after much exertion the flames were extinguished, but not until Mrs. K. had been dreadfully burnt. A messenger was immediately despatched to Parramatta for surgical assistance; Dr. Sherwin hastened to the spot, and remained with his suffering patient the whole night, using every means in his power for her relief; but after lingering in great agony until about one o'clock on Monday, she expired, at the early age of 22, and leaving four young children to lament a mother's loss. She was the third wife whom Mr. Kelly has had to follow to the grave. Her funeral took place on Wednesday, and was most numerously attended.