The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-12-29
THE NEWEST FATALITY.
Horrible Explosion in Kitchen in Harlem
Woman Terribly Injured and Burned
to Death-A Scksnins story-
The scorched Remains.

Miss Ella Campben was yesterday morning III
iured by the explosion OF the "water bacsn OF a
Kitchen range, and the hot embers which were
blown over her clothes Ignited them and she was
burned SO badly that she breathed her last about
an hour and half afterwards. The circumstances
OF the fearful catastrophe are such lead to new
disgust at the parsimonious economy OF
the owners OF property, who do not scruple
to save their pennies at the peril OF human life.
The house in which 1t occurred Is known as l4s
East ll5th street. 1t il OF those first erected
In Harlem ana upon which the march OF time ana
progress has wrought little change. Tho kitchen
Is small and low and last night, when visited by .
reporter OF the HERALD, was a scene OF the direst
confusion and most astonishing destruction, sug-
gestivc OF
THE TERRIBLE TRAGEDY
which had recently occurred. Dr. James
r. Campbell Is the brother OF the lfeless victim.
lie said that he had not yet been able to look upon
what remained OF the form OF his sister, hts nerves
were too weak He had not been at home during
the night, and only returned at ABOUT seven O'Clock
in the morning, after the occurrence OF the expo-
sion, which was ten minutes earlier than his arri-
val The family had all risen and were down stairs
in the Kitchen and the sitting living room,
having
JUST GOTTEN THROUGH BREAKFAST.
The table stood opposite the range and was
covered with cloth, dishes and food. The Ore
burning brightly and chcerully, and filed the
room with genial warmth and glow OF comfort.
Miss Ella Campbell, who was woman OF thirty
years, and was rather good looking ana shapely
in form, with regular and pleasant face, was
kneeling on the hearthstone IN front
of the crate, and was engaged IN toasting piece
OF bread upon fork before the flames. Her little
sepne wy was sitting IN M chair near her and pres
into the Kitchen, took q match from the box
the window, and, returning proceeded to light
fire in the sitting room. inst she leaned over
to strike the match there came from the kitchen
A TERRIFIC AND DEAFENING EXPLOSION.
she rushed into the kitchen and scene OF
terror and horror. The moor covered with
fragments OF the iron OF the range and burning
Goals, and Miss Campbell lay in the midst OF them,
dre. The mother thought OF her little boy,
ten years old, who had been with his
him srlawIing at the further side OF the table,
which was driven from It's original position, almost
against the wall She picked him up With loud
scream, thinking that the whole house would be
burned, ana, turning when she was half
way through The passage, she cried to
4 in the agony OF the embrace OF the ialnes, and
4 motioncd with her hands for her to come out into
4 the street and plunge into the snow. The woman
| went into the sitting-room ana then rushed back
| TO the kitchen, and was dragged out again by her
1 sstcr-in-law. VINO then new wildly to the upper
stories OF the house and took her other
] two children who were not awake. in
shouted aud shriclcd to the ncirhbors Tor help.
Just AT tins point q man came along who was eX-
t'ngnishing the public gaslights on the sidewalk,
THE FATAL BASEMENT.
I He found Miss Campbell croucled in corner,
backened and her terrible screams nlling the air.
Other persons by this time had come in AS quickly
| as they could they wrapped her in blankets and
sMoTiIEhED TIRE FLAMES;
but II too late. she asked, with indistinct
utterances that scarcely could be caught between
her agonizing cries, Tor some water ana water
| was thrown over her and poured through her
scared and blstered lips. Then they bore her up
stairs, and she, on the way, wanted the blankets
taken or her head. She was laid upon y
he'd in the little back parlor. DR.. briggs.
arrived ana heard her Shrek in PIERCING ps tones as
they placed her on the bed, "rake away the frei"
These were the only words she uttered, and, though
she was conscious until twenty minutes before she
| died, nothing could be understood from her lips.
At about nine O'Clock she expired, with cries that
Mrs. Campbell said will ring in her ears to her
dying day.
DIR. briggs OPINION
was that she died from inhalation OF flames, but
that her death would have been sure, although not
so immediate, from her external injuries The face
is cut and gashcd In many places and Drowned like
u side OF tanned leather, the skin shrvelled and
| scared, 50 that there Is &ss ~ ttt
NO FEATURE RECOGNIZABLE r.|
as having once been animate with life ana thought.
The rest Of the body is also scorchcd and backened
and the clothes are in ashes, except at the waist,
| where they fastened more tightly than else
where Last evening the remains were stretched
on slab and a white sheet was spread over them.
The range in the Kitchen was one OF the oldest
DR.. Campbell, when he recently hired the house,
urged Mr. Darrow, the landlord, to repair IL or put
new one In its place. but he refused percmptoriy
| to do The iron work was rusted ami iraIi.
| The water was not frozen at all, as 1t was
kept running from the hydrant during the
night, so that the only superstition that can be
formed OF the cause Of the catastrophe 3 that the
explosion was the result OF the sheer weakness OF
the old and corsOded water-back." If such vol.
canoes as these exist in many other households
\ they would do well to desert their homes
The investigation will probably be made by the
Coroner on Monday. The little boy Is only slightly
burned, and will soon recover.