Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1872-07-24
Letter from Thompsontowfis
FATAL ACCIDENT FROM COAL OIL.
THoaPsoNrowN, July -, 1872.

THOaPsoNrowN, July ~, 1877.
Editor Sentiael Our Usually quiet
little town was thrown into a fever of
excitement on Thursday afternoon last,
by the occurrence of tnost terrible &C.
cident, occasioned by the explosion Of a
ccal oil can, resulting in the death Of one
of the most kind hearted and loving lit.
tie girls we ever knew.
The particulars of this sad affair. as
near as we could learn, are as follows {:
Miss Katie Mills, aged IL years. second
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. S. Mills.
while attempting to make fire in the
cook stove. to heat some water. and the
wood not being very dry. picked up the
coal oil can and thought she would put
on some oil to make the wood burn quick.
and at the same time surprising that the
fire was all out of the stove but. alas !!
the moment she dropped the oil on the
wood. it blazed and caught in the can.
exploding it ard throwing the contents
over her clothing near the bottom of her
dress. which immed lately took fire. She
endeavored to put out the fire at once.
but soon found it impossible. She called
FOR help. All the family were absent
except her little brother of six years,
who, being near, attempted to pull he,
to the pump, in order TO pump water on
the flames but he could not hold her
She ran to the yard in front of the house,
and being all Oh fire and exhausted. fell
to the ground near the front gate At
this junclure neighbor lady, Mrs Ships,
seeing her on fire, rushed to her rescue,
and threw piece of carpet over her,
putting out the flames. She then took
her Into the house, but, alas ! too late
DR.. Greenleaf, was Immediately sum-
moned, and did all in his power to relieve
the little sufferer, but of no avail She
lived only one hour and half-then the
angels took her to her heavenly home.
The accident occurred about o'clock
When Mrs.. Ships reached Katie. nearly
all her clothing was burned off. except
her shoes Mrs Ships had her arms
badly burned in her efforts to extinguish
,he flames. Katie's little brother was
also considerably burned. Mrs Mills
aud two of the children were away from
home at the time the accident occurred
She was immediately dispatched for, but
arrived too late to see her Katie alive.
Katie was member of the VI, +.
Sabbath School of this place, and was a
kind hearted and ever dutiful scholar
She was loved by all who knew her, and
her un,imely death will be mouned not
My at the family circle, but by all her
friends, both old and young.
The funeral services were at rended on
'ui'e"J " i.-i 90 CohCoulec oI IilcUCS.
The services were conducted by Rev
J b. Shaver, pastor of the NJ f. church
of this place. who delivered most pa
thetic and excellent sermon from Job 9 ::
%. For l know that my Redeemer
livc,h" After the sermon he gave a
WARNING address upon the danuerous use
Of coal oil, which was well received
Ii might be well for us to mention the
fact that this is the third fa:al accident
which has happened in the building in
which Mr.. Mills resides, by the use of
coal oil, and We hope the people of
i hompsontown will now take warning
from this sad occurrence, and not at
Tempt TO kindle fires with this dangerous
duid. V.