(printed in London newspaper Friday, 14 July 1908)
"Yesterday, at the Islington Coroner's Court, Dr. George Danford Thomas held an inquest relative to the death of Ethel Leah Dewhurst, aged 20 years, lately living at 66, Seymour-square, Euston-square, who died from the effects of burns.
Deceased was in the employ of Arc Lamp Company, St. Paul's Crescent, Camden-road, and on the 14th inst. she, with two other girls, were at work. They had before them a tray that contained enamel which was composed of some inflammable substance. One of the girls accidentally knocked off a shelf a box of safety matches. She picked them up, and in putting them back into the box one of them caught fire. She blew out the light, but a portion of the match that was hot fell into the tray of enamel, the result of which was that the material was set in a blaze. Deceased and another girl endeavoured to blow the fire out, but failed. Deceased flicked her apron over it and in doing so the apron caught fire and afterwards her clothing. Screams brought to her assistance some male employees, and it being found she had received extensive burns she was removed to the Great Northern Central Hospital, Holloway-road, where she sank and died on Tuesday last from exhaustion consequent on the burns received. (handwritten note here says "18 July")
The employee of the company, in answer to His Majesty's Inspector of Factories, stated that sand was kept on the premises, but it was not used on this occasion for they were not instructed as to its use.
Mr. George Tate, the manager, said that matches were used for the purpose of lighting the enamel ovens because the electric lights would not do for such a purpose. Sand was kept in case of fire breaking out on the premises, but the female employees were not instructed as to its use. The enamel was not manufactured by them, but purchased, and he had no doubt after this occurrence that it was highly inflammable.
The Coroner said that it was said that calamities were found to lead to improvements, and he often found that in regard to accidents resulting in death that these inquiries did bring out certain things which led to greater precautions not only being taken, but improvements made, by which similar accidents were prevented. He thought that it would be best in future if electric lights were used for lighting the enamel ovens, so that there was no necessity to have matches.
His Majesty's Inspector of Factories suggested that the female employees should be thoroughly instructed as to the use of the sand in case of a similar fire. The enamel was very inflammable.
The Managing Director of the Company said that since this sad occurrence extra precautions had been adopted, and he would see that the Coroner's advice was followed.
The jury, in returning a verdict of "Accidental death" added a rider suggesting that in the future females should be fully instructed as to the use of sand in case of fire."
