Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-08-17
Murder--Arson--Suioide.


Scarcely a day passes that we are
not called upon TO record some horri-
bic death and destruction of property
caused by criminal recklcssness in the
use ofkerosene. The frequency of these
terrible occurrences-the intolerable
sufferings, and the dreadful loss Of life
and property occasioncd by them-ad.
monish us to no longer regard them
as unavoidable accidents, but rather
as the wicked acts Of deliberate sui.
cidcs, wilful murdcrers, or irresponsi.
bic lunatics.
Within very short time past we
have clipped from our exchanges the
following cases, and have passed over
without notice great many more
Mrs. Henry Work, residing near
Mechanics Grove, Lancaster county,
was burned TO death in attempting to
I'll o coal oil lamp rhVe lighted. She
suffered tho most excruciating agony.
Sarah Bcelcr, Of Wheeling, Va, at
tempting to GIL y lamp ohde Il lcds
burning. Tho lamp exploded, enve-
oped her in flames, and she died in
agony few hours afterwards.
Mrs. Longacre, of Chester county,
tried to expedite the kindling of a
fire by pouring coal oil upon Il. As
might have been expected, the oil-can
exploded, enyeloped Mrs Longacre in
flames, and burnt her to death.
Mary NJ. Miller, beautiful and in
teresting girl OF Reading, a few days
ago ndcavorcd TO kindlc a fire in the
kitclen stove by pouring coal oaoH the
,oood, and then set the lamp down on
the stove. An explosion that sound
ed Ike the discharge of a cannon took
place and Mary was burned TO q crisp,
and lied after the most pitiablc aud
hoartrcnding suffcrings.
A daughter Of Thomas Nicholson,
Of Port Jervis, II years of age, was
attempting TO make fire in the stove,
uSiRg kerosene 10 facilitate the work,
when the flames communicated to the
can, which exploded, scattering the
contcnts over the girl burning hor
breast and arms badly, so that il is
feared she will not recover Her
clothes were nearly all burned from
her body
Miss Fridingcr, Of Ilagcrstown, Nd,
having considerable trouble in start
ling fire, picked up coal oil can
which was near at hand, and com
litencei pouring hc oil upon he IRE,
llnd tho consequence was, an explo-
sion Immediately eusued, the ignited
contents flying inevery direction, set
Ing her clothes on fire, and cnvelop
/ iag her in flames Aler enduring
rinc hours of the most excruciating
agony, she expired.
Richard Evans, promising young
man of about II years OF age, was en-
dcavoring to kindlc a fire, and to IA
cIIitalo combustion, he procured the
oil can and commenced pouring the
] huid on the wood. Tho result was
tie ignition of the kerosene and the
Immediate explosion Of the canister
the liquid flame completely onvelop
ing the unfortunate youth. He ling
cred in great agony until next morn
ing, when death ended his suticrings
Near Tarboro, n c., while Mr.. Dil
lard was engaged in filing lamI
that was lighted, it exploded ant
knocked him down aud set fire to Tho
dress Of his wiie's nurse, who was car
rying a new born infant. The nurs,
lay down the infant to cxtinguish th,
flames. Mr.. billiard in the meantim,
recovering from the stun he had re
ccivcd, went to the assistance Of th'
nurse, and seeing the bundle of clothe
on tho table in blaze, seized then
aud threw them out Of tho door, no
! knowing their precious contents, o.
being taken up the infant was toun'
dead. But its death by the fall wa
no doubt sent in mercy, as its bod
J was found 10 be burned in severa