Amy Kensington

Killed by a fire engine

On 18^th December 1906, Amy Kensington (aged 55), the wife of Charles Kensington, was heading home to Thorndon with her two daughters Louisa (aged 32) and Olive (aged 21). As they reached the end of Lambton Quay, they crossed the bottom of Bowen Street and were struck by the City Council’s Fire Engine travelling to a fire in the Botanical Gardens.

Amy was struck by the front of the engine which passed over her body and inflicted head injuries. Death was instantaneous. Louisa suffered a compound fracture of the lower left leg and Olive was uninjured.

The incident happened so quickly that witnesses accounts varied. The engine was estimated to travel around the corner onto Bowen Street at speed – estimated at between eight to ten miles an hour.

Charles Kensington, who was the Under-Secretary for Lands, saw that there had been an accident from his office window in Government Buildings. Someone came up and told him he was needed at the accident site. When he got to the crowd, someone tried to push him back out of kindness, but he went on and saw his wife lying dead in the centre of the road. Dr Pollen and Dr Izard arrived soon after the accident and Louisa and Amy’s body were taken to the family home in Hobson Crescent.

At the inquest Mr O’Brien, Deputy Superintendent of the Fire Brigade said he was on the front of the fire engine with the driver when the accident happened. He stated that the bell was rung thirty or forty yards from the Bowen Street corner. He also stated that some ladies were half-way over the crossing from the Lambton Quay side then started to walk back when they heard the motor, hesitated, and were going forward again when the engine ran into them. Olive had assumed the fire engine was travelling straight through the intersection and not turning into Bowen Street. Note that the Bowen Street intersection used to be further north (running behind the cenotaph built in 1932) than it is today.

Fireman (Palmer Otto) Spry who had been driving the engine at the time of the accident re-acted the movements of the vehicle at the intersection for the jury. There were many and varied eye witness accounts of the accident heard at the inquest. The jury returned a verdict of misadventure and that no blame was attached to the driver, as they were convinced that Fireman Spry saw a clear course when turning into Bowen Street. They also were of the opinion that fire engine warnings were not distinct enough from the electric tram warning bell. The coroner said he was bound to accept the verdict but he also entirely disagreed with it.

In January the Crown decided to proceed with a charge of manslaughter against  William Stephen O’Brien and Palmer Otto Spry. The case was heard in February 1908. Both pleaded not guilty. The Grand Jury threw out the bill.

Amy Kenny was married to (William) Charles Kensington in 1873. She was the daughter of the Hon. Colonel William Kenny and was born in Onehanga. Amy and Charles had eight children of which five were still living at the time of their mother’s death. Her funeral was held on the 19^th December at Karori Cemetery, conducted by the Ven. Archdeacon Fancourt. The Premier (Sir Joseph Ward) and many heads of government departments attended. The coffin bore a number of beautiful wreaths and floral tokens. Charles died in 1922 and is buried in Marton. Neither Louisa or Olive married. Their three brothers Hubert, Charles and George all married and have descendants.

Plot: *Ch Eng/A/77

By Julia Kennedy