The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-06-29
4 DOUBLE TRAGEDY IN ALEX.
ANDRIA.

C"ne OIL ENpIosion-A Young LAY
nnrned 90 Death-Her Betrsehed
"a Shooss himself ana Dies ARo.
nance Of Love and Deash. y f.,
Alexandria has, wuhin the past thirty-six
houra been We soese Of q double tragedy,
which hss excited u ~ utmost NE dsuiseus
or Nat Usually quiet city.N y
On Saturday night, about s o'clock, Miss
| Laura Schaffer, the daughter OF Mr.. Christian
Sehafer, an old citizen OF Alexandria, residing
And keeping a confectionery store on Fairfax
street, near the market house, while coming
down passage stairs with ssosLeii lamp In
her hand, hooked her heel In the step and was
thrown to the bottom. The lamp striking on
the way was broken, and the oil catching fire
dashed In every direction, setting Ere to every.
thing In Its vicinity. As the clothing Of the
young lady was saturated with the burning
nuid, she was soon wrapped In names and lay
amid the burning mass as funercai pyre. A
gentleman who was standing opposite says
that the glare which dsrted from the passage
way was so bright that he supposed the
whole interior Of the house was In names.
Alarmed BY her shrleks, the mother Of the
young lady rushed to her assistance, but was
driven of by the flames, not, however, till she
had suffered serious injuries In the endeavor
to save her daughter. Mr.. Thomas Burrage,
whose establishment Is opposite the scene OF
the accident, also rushed to tho spot, and
tearing the burning clothing from Miss Schaf.
fer, succeeded In cxtinguishiug the flames.
His aid came too lstej tho sufferer had been
fatally injured. Notwithstanding surgical
skill, she suffered intensely, and died al II
o'clock yesterday.
Miss sehaffer was young lady Of great per
sonal charms, and had large circle OF admir-
ers. The successful sutton for her hand was
ono Of the best, kindest-hearted and most fss.
oinsting OF young Alex sndri ans-Ch HARLEY Ten
neson. As might be imagined, he felt severely
the shock produced by the sad accident above.
recorded. During the whole night and morn
ing since the accident he had been inoonsolsl
Bile, and upon hearing Of the death Of his be.
trothcd became nearly frantic.
About one O'Clock he went with Mr.. Green,
one OF the partners Of Downham 4 Green,
Into the liquor establishment OF the latter, on
King near Fairfax street, within few rods
from where Miss Schafcr lay dead, and while
treen was not observing him, put loaded
pistol to his right temple and fred. The ball
entered the brain, and he fell. DR.. M, NJ,
Lewis was called to his assistance, but his
condition was beyond the skill Of the surgeon
He lay In an insensibie condition at our latest
report lat O'Clock last EVENING" at which
time he was dying. He is the son OF Mr.. Sam.
uei renneson, the proprietor OF the weii-known
restaurant near the Mansion House.
While the crowd was gathered near the
establishment of Downham h Green, young
friend OF Tcnneson named James Wood, who
mad just come out from viewing the nearly
inanimate remains OF his companion, tainted
and fell heavily on the pavement. He was
Immediately attended to by DE-. Lewis. but at
one time IL was fea red that tbsre xvo,td ~