The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-03-19
E,rBsaSi0la la III school Room,
ONE CHILD KILLED.

The Baltimore County Union of Saturday
gives an account of n frightful accident in a
school room in that county, by the explosion
OF stove. The Union says On Monday
morning last, very dreadful affair took place
at the school house on the old York road,
about halfmilc above Mcrediths Bridge in
the Tenth District of this county. Mr.. Grit
fifth, the teacher, was in the room with his
scholars, when u terrific explosion of large
template stove in the room took place, COM
plete!y blowing out one side of it. A number
OF children were seated upon bench along
side of the stove when the explosion took
place Ella and Emma Proctor aged re-
spectlyeiy ten and eight years, daughters of
Dr. Joseph Proctor residing in the neigh
borhood, and a daughter of Mr.. John Smith
were the ones most severely injured. The
explosion set the dresses of Ella and Emma
Proctor on fire, and they both rushed out of
the house, and Ella, who was all in n blaze,
ran across the road, and, with remarkable
presence of mind under the circumstances,
rolled herself in small snow-drift, endeavor-
ing to eXtinguish the flames, but was unsuc.
cessiu in the attempt. She then ran towards
the gate-housc, close by, when she was met
by the gatekeepcr, who wrapped piece of
carpet around her, which subdued the flames,
but her body which was in almost u nude
condition, vas burned to q crisp from her
shoulders to her knees. The gatekeeper also
eXtipgnishnA thc fire in the clothing of Emma
Proctor. Nh Smiths daughter was burned
quite seriously, and several other children to
less extent Mr.. Griffith, the teacher was
also badly burned about the eyes and hands.
Dr. L. Ill. Wingfield was speedily sent for,
and as quickly as he could reach the scene
exerted all his skill in aid of the sufferers hut,
after lingering III great agony, Ella Proctor
died on Tuesday afternoon. The others, DIR.
Wingficld thinks, will all recover
The origin of this sad affair seems wrap
ped in mystery. Mr.. Griffith made the fire
in the stove about seven o'clock in the morn
ing removing the ashes before doing so, and
the explosion did not occur until about ten
o'clock, the wood used being green and wet,
and not burning very well.
AT the time Of the explosion the smell of
powder was easily distinguished by all present
and the bench alongside of the stove cxhibi-
ted unmistakeablc marks of having been
scorched by powder, as did also the hands
OF Nj. Griffith. After the explosion, pieces
ofbroker glass, evidently parts of glass bot
tie, were found in and around the stove, Civ
ing good reason for the opinion that some
dastardly villain had deliberately planned and
executed the outrage that has resulted so
disastrousIy. Mr.. Griffith says that one of
the windows Of the house was open when
he went there in the morning but he thought
nothing of il at the time but it was probably
through this window that the person who
placed the powder in the stove effected an
entrance. 1t is generally supposed that the
powder was placed in a bottle, and buried in
the back part Of the stove, and that it was
necessarily long time becoming sufficient
ly heated TO explode.
We hope that the whole surroundings of
the case may be fully examined into. We
understand that jackson Wilson, Esq, the