The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1876-12-01
HORRIBLE ACCIDENT.
. Methodist NAlnIster's FamI-
~ I'm Flames.

II
~ Hm Flames.
INDEPENDENCE, KS, Nov. 10,
The frightful accident which
occurred in our city last Saturday
evening, is still absorbing the at
tention and calling forth the SYM
patty OF the entire community.
The particulars of the sad affair
are as follows: A portion of
the family OF. the Rev. Mr.. Nc
Farland, viz, two young ladies
agad respectively seventeen and
fifteen, and a young boy some sew
en- years of age, were in the kitch-
en- attached to the parsonage
building, about 7 p. m, engaged
in cooking some Gales for the fol-
lowing Sunday. A coal oil lamp
was sitting on an old rickety ia
BILE. and while in a romp with the
little boy, one OF the young ladies
leaned back suddenly against it
with her chair, when it split in
two just under the lamp, the latter
falliAg into the crevice. The bur
ner came of, and the oil poured
int her lap and all over the floor,
igniting as fast as it came out.
The other sister seeing the pre-
dicament, ran to her relief, when
both. having on calico dresses,
were Immediately enveloped in the
flames. The father and mother,
who were in another portion of
the house, rushed into thekitchen,
but all efforts to extinguish the
tlamcs were unavailing. Mr.. Nc
Fa-land seized the young lady,
who was covered with the burning
coal oil, and threw her upon a bed,
covering her with a feather bed,
but although packed SO closely as
to be smOthered to insensibflity,
as soon as the covering was re-
moved the flames burst forth all
over her again, until she is actu-
ally described by an eye witness
as having been cooked alive. The
other sister ran out of the house
and was met by DR.. jackson, who
with many others by this time had
reached the tarrible scene. He
Immediately threw around her
carpet, and by throwing her down
in the snow, succeeded in putting
out the flames. Every particle Of
clothing upon both the young Ia
dies, inducing portion of their
shoes, was b.rned.
Mr.. Netherlands hands are ter
ribly burned and his long beard is
singed close to his face. One of
Mrs. Netherlands hands and one
arm are badly burned. The leg
and side of the little boy are in a
sad plight, Tut his injuries it is
supposed will not prove fatal.
One of the young ladies died
yesterday Sunday morning,
about twelve hours from the time
ct the accident. The other still
survives, but there is no hope of
recovery. The suffering Of the
deceased one as well as the one
still lingering Is said to be very pc
culiar and intense. The feet and
hand remain as cold as ice, while
they complaip Continually, and
just before death reaction seems
to set in and the whole body be-
comes unusually warm.
Old persons who have been
waiting upon the family describe
the scene IS the most touching of
their lives. Mr.. Mcfarland is an
elderly minister, was pastor at
this place many years ago, and is
esteemed aud beloved by all who
knew hem. The two young ladies
just blooming into womanhood
are represented as promising and
attractive and were the chief Joy
and pride of the stricken house
hold. The sad affair is the topic
of universal comment, and must
elicit not only the warmest sym
patty from the heart of every
member of our community but al
so peculiar and tender pity from
the flock over which Mr.. McFar-
land has lately been called to pre-
side, as we'll as the many church.
es OF which he has been pastor
during his long and faithful min
estry in our State,