Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 06 January 1893

Fire in Kilnhurst

The cry of fire alarmed several people last Thursday night in the village. It appears that a boy was in the shop of Mr. Jeffery, who deals in paraffin, etc., when he beheld the fiery flame dart through the floor of the shop near to the pump used to draw the paraffin out of the cellar.

Police-constable Lumb was just passing the shop when the alarm was given, and he set to work, and, with the aid of others, soon extinguished the fire. It behoves people to be very careful with candles, for great files have a very simple origin. Such was the case in this instance.

It appears that Mr. Jeffery. along with Mr. A. Bailey, went into the cellar with a lighted candle to seek a skate, when they found out that the paraffin pump was drawing air, and Mr. Jeffery thought by letting some of the candle grease drop on the pipe it would stop it. When in the act the light ignited some cobwebs, which ran to the floor of the shop, which was saturated with paraffin.

Had it not been for the assistance of Mr. Lumb and Mr. Bailey consequences would have been serious, as, I understand, the stock is not insured