BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE life of a 78-year-old man was saved early this morning because he is not a deep sleeper.
Samuel ‘Old Oak’ Smithen of Mission Street, Tabernacle was awakened from his slumber this morning (Jan. 5) by a strange sound to find the door to his bedroom was on fire.
At about 11:00 a.m. this media house visited Smithen’s home and found the 78-year-old and his daughter, Linda Lowry, on the verandah examining the damage done to his bedroom door.
“This morning at approximately 1:45 while I was sleeping I heard a whooshing sound coming from the verandah. I immediately opened my eyes and saw the door and the inner entrance to my bedroom was on fire.
“I opened the door, ran through the flames and into my kitchen, where I collected two large plastic bottles that were filled with water and put out the fire. After putting out the fire, I carefully examined the door and inside the bedroom to see what damage was done.
“I found that the outer part of the door was badly scorched and a part of the floor on the inside was also scorched as the carpet was on fire. My cap and slippers were destroyed by the fire. Were I not a light sleeper, I may have died this morning,” Smithen said.
Smithen also said that on examination of the door and other areas on the verandah, signs of an oily substance were present which he believed was ignited by match or a lighter, “and that had caused the whooshing sound”.
The septuagenarian indicated that shortly before 2:00 a.m. he had called a female friend, who is a member of the Federation’s Police Force, and informed her of the incident and requested that she notify the police.
He shortly thereafter called his daughter and informed her of the situation.
Smithen noted that on three occasions individuals had phoned for the police, but it took a male officer approximately one hour to arrive at his residence from the Tabernacle Police Station which is no more that 600 metres from where he lives.
“The officer took a statement from me and, even though I did not see the person who set the fire, I suspected one individual and I gave the officer his name. The officer said that the Sergeant who is in charge of the Tabernacle Police Station was not there, but when he arrives he would inform him and return to my residence. It is now 11:05 and I am still waiting for them.”
This media house visited the station at approximately 11:30 a.m. and was told by a junior rank that the Sergeant was at a lecture at Force Headquarters in Basseterre.
The officer also said they knew of the incident and it was currently under investigation.
On December 6, 2010, an armed man had entered Smithen’s home while he was seated in his living room.
The man demanded money from Smithen and gun-butted him in the head during the process, which caused him to have eight stitches. However, Smithen loudly cried out for help and neighbours immediately went to his assistance but the gunman fled the scene.
Smithen allegedly recognised the gunman and a report was made at the Tabernacle Police Station.
The suspect was arrested, charged with the offence, appeared in the Magistrate’s Court on September 9, 2011 and the case is scheduled for hearing at the High Court sometime this month.
