The New York herald., 1872-12-29
THE NEWEST FATALITY.
Horrible Explosion in Kitchen in Harlem
AWoman Terribly Injured and Burned
to Death-A Scksnins Story
The scorched Remains.

Miss Ella Campben was yesterday morning IN
jured by the explosion OF the .water back,' OF a
Kitchen range, and the hot embers which were
blown over her clothes lgnited them and she was
burned so badly that she breathed her last about
hour and a 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 14s
East lI5rh street. 1t Is one OF those first erecLed
In Harlem and upon which the march OF time and
progress has wrought little change. The 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.
gestve OF
THE TERRIBLE TRAGEDY
which had recently occurred. DR.. James
r. Campbell Is the brother of the llfcess victim.
lie said that he had not yet been able to look upon
what remained OF the form OF his sister. hts
we're too weak. He had not been ut home during
the night, and only returned at O'Clock
in the morning, after the occurrence OF the explO-
slon 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 N
GOTTEN THROUGH BREAKFAST
rhe table stood opposite the range. and was
covered with cloth, dishes and food The Ore
was burning brightly and cheerluy, and filed the
room with genial warmth and glow OF comfort.
Miss Ella Campbell, who was a woman OF thirty
years, and was rather good looking ana shapely
In form with regular and pleasant face, was
knceling on the hearthstone IN front
OF the crate, and was engaged IN toasting piece
OF bread upon IA fork before the flames. Her little
nephew was sitting IN a chair near her, and pres
into the Kitchen took match from the Dox near
the window, and returning, proceeded to light
to strike the match there came from the kitchen
TERRIFIC AND DEAFENlNG EXPLOSION.
she rushed into the kitchen ana scene Of
terror and horror. The moor was covered with
fragments OF the iron OF the range ana burning
Goals, and Miss Campbell lay IN the midst OF them,
tre. The mother thought OF her little boy,
ten years old who had been with his
him snIawing at the further side OF the table,
which was driven from It's original position, almost
scream, thinking that the whole house would be
burned. ana, turning when she was half
way through The, passage, she cried to
her sister-in.law, who had sprung TO her feet
in the agony OF the embrace Of the Gamcs and
motioncd with her hands for her TO come out into
the street and plunge into the snow. The woman
went into the sittng-room ana then rushed back
TO the Kitchen, and was dragged out again by her
stories Of Tie house and took her othcr
two children, VINO were not awake. in
their nght-clothes. into the street. She
shouted aud shrckcd TO tho ncighbors for help.
just AZ TINS point man came along who was cx-
tnguishng the public gaslights on the sidewalk,
and ne entered
THE FATAL BASEMENT
He found MISS Campbell cfouched in corner,
her garments and the carpet burning, her face
blackencd and her terrible screams 1ling the air.
Other persons by this time had In. AS quickly
as they could they wrapped her in blankets and
SM0TfIEKED THE FLAMES;
but 1t was too late. she asked with indlstinct
utterances that scarcely could be caught between
her agonizing cries, Tor some water" and water
was thrown over her and poured through her
scared and blistered lips. Then they bore her up
stairs, and She on the way, wanted the blankets
bed in the little back parlor. DR.. briggs,
WHO had , been been called, at this moment
they placed her on the bed, "rake away the drepr
These were the only words she uttered and, though
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. DRIGGs' 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 shrivcllcd and
scared, SO that there is sk E4tf fsnr
NO FEATURE RECOGNIZABLE
as having once been animate with life ana thought.
The the body also scorched and blackened,
and the clothes In ashes, except at the waist,
where they We're fastened more tightly than else
where. Last evening the remains were stretched
on slab and white sheet was spread over them.
The range in the Kitchen was one OF the oldest
ucSCIIpsoH hhFluB DccH UHHI elBHIceH years ago.
DR.. Campbell when he recently hired the house,
urged Mr.. Darrow, the landlord TO repair 1t or put
new one In its place, but he refused percmptOrily
to do sO The iron work was rnsted and trail.
The water was not lrozen at all, as 1t was
kept running from the hydrant during the
night SO that the only supposltion 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.u 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.