The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-11-27
Dreadful AnaIr az a Party.

The st. Paul Press, of Saturday, de-
tails fearful accident which occurred
In that city on Friday morning. The
previous evening there was a festive
party at Gen. a. a. Sibley's. 1t was
late before the hospltable family babe
good night to their last guests, and
they had scarcely turned from the door
after saying adieu, when they were
startled by a loud crash, followed by
piercing screams. They all rushed up
stairs. the General in advance, to be-
hold a sight which was enough TO cur
die the blood with horror. In the up
per hall and rushing towards then,
came Maggie Murphy, wrapped in
flames and shEieking with agony,
while behind her the Whole room SEEM
ed blazing in a sheet of fire. The
General, With great presence of mind,
seized a bed quilt and attempted TO
wrapt it about the unfortunate girl.
The heat, however, was too Intense,
and the quilt so light, that his efforts
were unavaiing, and he was driven
back. he then rushed into another
room for heavier material with which
to extinguish the flame. Just at this In
slant, his daughter, Miss AuEustSr
who followed Immediately upon his
heels, or rather went up With him, me.
the burning girl, who IN her frenzy
threw her arms tightly about her neck.
Her light evening attire WIS Instantly
ignited. She WIS unable to free her
self until thoroughly on ire 4ndeeu
Il ia probable that the hold OF Maggie
Tus only lOOsened by her falling IN a
sWOon. Miss Augusta escaped into the
-EnrT In FV1HFVEAN-
completely blocking the entrdncs, As
the flames from her clothing and body
were blazing up stuost TO the ceinng.
Miss Augusta, with wonderful pres
euce OF mind, threw herself into or onto
bed that was in the rooni and sue
ceeded in drawing one OF the mattresses
over her " bile she lay upon the other.
By this time many Of the guests, who
had Just Ieft the door, aud hearing the
crash and screams, and seeing the blaze
OF Dire that illuminated the mouse, ran
back and up the stairway. Cornelius
Riley, head waiter of the International
Hotel, and who had charge of the sup
per, was perhaps the first one beside the
family at the head of the stairs. He
pulled of his coat and threw IL over the
girl as she lay upon the floor. The
General also brought heavy bed quilts
and they were thrown over the flames,
and in this way snbdued. Miss Angus
tn, during all these fearful seconds (tor
they could only have been seconds,)
WAS fighting the flames inside the room.
As soon as Maggie was extinRuished,
attention was turned to helping Au-
gusta. Her clothes were all on fire;
and with water and blankets 1t was ali
they could do to save her from DecOm'
ing victim. The room where the eX-
pl0siOn took place was in flames; also
the adjoining one where Augusta lay,
which had taken fire from her cloth.
ing. Blankets and water were used
freely, and somehow the flames in both
rooms were extinguished. 1t was al
most miraculous that the house did not
become sothorOnghly ignited as TO defy
all efforts to save it. The KEROSENE
from the exploded lamp had been
thrown all over the door and on the
walls, and nothing but the most
prompt and energetic action by those
present saved the building. Maggie
Murphy was burned beyond all hores
of recovery. Miss Augusta was the
next greatest sufferer. On examine
ton it was found that both her arms,
hands, shoulders. and one side OF her
back were badly burned-not SO AS 10
be considered dangerous. but enough
TO cause her intense suffering. Maggie
died at one o'clock, Friday afternoon.