Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-01-18
uoRRInLE CAPITALIZATION.
House and Furniture HIHrned I'm Edge
neId-A Negro woman harmed 20
DeaaIs-The BOsiy Charred 30 Crisp
"A Child Badly Burned.

ETouse and Furniture Harmed I'm Edge
neld-A Negro woman Earned 30
Denah-The Bosiy Charred 30 n Crisp
"A Child BADLY Burned.
One Of the most melancholy events, in
volving both the loss Of life and property,
that we have had to chronicle for long
while, occurred in Edgefeld last night
The details of the affair are heartrending
and sickening, to say nothing Of the loss Of
an excellent residence and portion of the
furniture, occupied by a worthy and es-
teemed citizen. About six O'Clock in the
evening flames were seen issuing from the
residence of Mr.. Andrew Caldwell, on
Sycamore street, near Herman street. Dir.
c. resides in Edgefeld, but does business
az a LAWYER in this city. The flames were
soon under full Roadway, enveloping the
entire building, with part Of the contents,
and casting their lurid light far and reai.
But the most melancholy event con-
nected with the disaster was the barn
ing TO death Of a negro woman em-
ployed in the family of Mr.. Caldwell. 1t
occurred in this way: just before ak o'clock
the negro woman, Nancy, had lighted
coal oil lamp in her hand, and il is thought
that she was trying to light with il a fire in
the stove. Be this as il may, the lamp ex-
pIoded, scattering the burning fluid over
the floor and the servant. The woman's
clothes Immediately ignited, and with her
burning garments she ran irantlcally into
Mrs. Caldwell's room, carrying the flames
with her. Mrs Caldwell Immediately closed
the door, Without knowing what she was
doing the negro woman seized Mrs. Cald-
wells child, a little girl Of six years old,
and the flames were at once communicated
TO its garments. With wonderful presence
of mind, Mrs. Caldwell secured the little
girl and With several buckets Of water ex-
linguished the flames from its clothes, that
would soon have sent the little sufferer
into eternity She then made her egress
from the house and saved the lives of both,
her child and herself
Meantime the negro woman tried in vain
to make her way out of the house rs the
flames spread, enveloping her entire per-
son her repeated and piercing screams
being continuously uttered as she rapidly
approached the most horrid Of deaths. BY
this time the flames had spread to every
part of the building. After the fire was
well under Roadway, the remains of the
unfortunate woman were dragged from the
burning element. The last spark of life
was extinct, and her body was burned and
charred 10 a crisp presenting most horrl-
bic and sickening sight. The hesh was
roasted and burned from the bones, and
little more than the frame work remained
10 attest that she had once been human
being.
The neighbors and citizens of Edgefeld,
| startled by the alarm, came with alacrity
to the rescue, and through their united
efforts most of the furniture and household
valuables were saved, though aeonsiderable
portion was destroyed. The house, which
was an excellent and comfortable one, was
left heap of ashes and debris, With no.
thing rema lining but two chimneys.
Mr.. Caldwell was not at home at the
time, being in this city ON business. The
child is very badly burned, from the waist
down, but is not vitality injured as we
learn from DIR. Madden, who was called to
administer medical aid. The preservation
Of its life is due entirely to the exiraordi-
nary presence of mind displayed by the
mother, Mrs. Caldwell, in the most trying
and agonizing circumstances.
The loss in the fire, as near as We could
estimate it, will not be far short of $2500.
| This fire and the melancholy incidents
connected with ii, should teach a lesson of
caution to all persons handling coal oil OF
any kind of lamps where burning fluids
are used. 1t should also warn our neigh
bors of Edgefeld that they should have g
fire engine at the earliest possible period,
that they may be prepared for similar
emergencies.