Florence Scroggie

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-70884

Notes:

Winterbourne School Girl Fatally Injured Explosion Sprays Flaming Alcohol on Victim's Dress

Spirit Lamp Bursts Prior to Milk Testing Experiment

Watching Work
Principal And Three Other Pupils Suffer Minor Burns

Ten-year-old Florence Scroggie of Winterbourne was fatally burned yesterday afternoon when a spirit lamp exploded in the village school while she watched a group of older boys in the agriculture class preparing for milk testing experiments. Drenched with blazing alcohol about the upper part of her body, she was so severely burned that she passed away at two o'clock this morning at the K-W Hospital. The principal of the school, Fraser MacDonald and three other pupils suffered minor but painful burns. Mr. MacDonald's arms were scorched as he rolled the fire victim in the snow in the school yard, while Forence Hardy, a girl companion of the Scroggie child, also was burned about the hands as she sought to rush her friend out of doors and into the snow. Two of the boys, Ray Burnett and Donald Pirie, also were burned, the former suffering from a scorch below one eye and the latter from burns on one hand.

Watching Experiment
According to Mr. MacDonald, Florence Scorggie was an observer as the agriculture class prepared for its experiment. The alcohol lamp was burning beneath a pan of water, and no one was within three feet of it when the explosion occurred. The shock blew the top off the lamp, Mr. MacDonald said, as the flames shot out. The clothing of the Scroggie girl was enveloped in fire but her companions were not slow in rallying to her aid. Seeking to get her out in the snow as quickly as possible, they seized her and rushed her out of doors. Mr. MacDonald, who was coaching the school hockey team on the rink at the time, ran toward her and, grasping her rolled her over in the snow, burning both arms in beating out the flames.

Lamp is Standard
Miss Weber, Mr. MacDonald's assistant, was in an adjoining room at the time. Organized sports, the activity in which Mr. MacDonald was engaged, are recognized as a part of the school curriculum. The lamp is standard in schools, Mr. MacDonald said today. He is at a loss to explain the accident. Meanwhile, Coroner Dr. Honsberger, collaborating with provincial police, has ordered an inquest for 2: 30 o'clock Tuesday at the Kitchener Police court. Police were not notified of the fatality until this morning.

Kitchener Daily Record 2 Feb 1935

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Winterbourne

A deep gloom has been cast over the entire community in the death of Florence Scroggie, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Scroggie, who was badly burned at the school last Friday about three o'clock and passed away eleven hours after at the Kitchener hospital. Florence was ten yeas and ten months of age and of a cheerful and lively disposition and will be much missed by her schoolmates. The funeral which was very largely attended, was held on Monday afternoon from the parents' home to the church for service. Rev. G. Little conducted the services. Eight little girls sang "Jesus, tender Shephard [sic], hear me." The pall-bearers were four boys, Donald Pirie, Walter Bulger, Rae Burnett and Carl Schuett. The remains were interred in the Presbyterian cemetery. The parents, one sister Mary and two brothers, Alex and Richard, are left to mourn her loss and they have the most heartfelt sympathy of this entire community in this sad and sudden bereavement.

Elmira Signet, February 7, 1935, pg. 4

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Jury's Verdict Re School Girl
Fatality Resulted From Winterbourne School Girl Attempting To Put Out Blaze

At an inquest held at Kitchener on Wednesday afternoon into the cause of the death of ten-year-old Florence Scroggie at the Winterbourne School house, following the explosion of an alcohol lamp on Friday, afternoon, the jury decided she had come to her death through the effects of burns received while "bravely attempting to extinguish the fire." It was pointed out that Florence Scroggie did not suffer fatal burns while trying to escape from a fire in the Winterbourne school but was burned when she dashed forward to try to beat out the flames with her hands. These flames were shooting across the teacher's desk towards a point where she was standing. The flames were pouring forth from an exploded alcohol lamp. The cause of the explosion could not be decided. A "rider" to the verdict urged that every school board adopt a definite system of safety education "so that all pupils maybe be advised of possible dangers and seasonable hazards, and how to cope with emergencies when they arise." Dr. Harvey explained that the child's life might have been saved had someone wrapped a coat or blanket about the girl immediately after her clothing had ignited. Dr. Harvey attributed her death to extreme shock occasioned by burns. The jury dismissed the question of neglect in returning its verdict. The jurymen empanelled were: Mel Swartz, Lester, Leason, J. V. Arnold, Rufus Sattler, L. D. Merrick, W. A. Smyth and H. Oswald. The Coroner is Dr. J. F. Honsberger.

Elmira Signet, February 7, 1935, front page