Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-07-10
A DREADFUL WARNING
Against Using COal-Oil in Lighting of
Fires-TwO Persons Fatally and
Five Others Seriously Burned.
Special to the Cincinnati Enquirer


BALTIMORE, July IA shocking coal-oi
accident. resulting from an attempt to quicker
the fame in stove by the use of that dan
gerous fluid, occurred in northeast Baltimore
to-day; resulting in the death of one person
and the serious burning of two others, The
victims were Virginia Norman, aged thir-
teen, Edgar, baby twenty months old, and
the father. Joseph Norman. Norman had
left the house for few minutes to pay visit
to a neighbor, and, while absent, his daugh-
ter Virginia attempted to start the fire in the
kitchen-stove. The wood not igniting quick
ly, she took a can containing small guam
tity of coal-oil, and holding it over the stove,
poured it on the wood. An instantaneous
explosion was the result, scattering the burn
log liquid in all directions, setting fire to the
girls clothes as well as those of her baby
brother. The screams of the unfortunate
girl brought the father to the scene, and, in
extipguishing the flames, ne was terribly
burned about the arms, hands and lower part
of the body. Virginia was carried into the
house, but was past relief, having inhaled the
flames. She died about four o'clock in the
afternoon. Mr.. Norman s injuries are very
severe.
DISTRESSING COAL OIL CASE IN ST. LOUIS
ST. LOUIS, July IA distressing accident
for which coil-oiI and human carelessDess are
responsible, occurred on Compton H;ll, in the
southeastern suburbs, this forenoon, causing
one death and serious injury to four other
persons Mrs. Elizabeth Riley, who lived
with her husband and one daughter at the
corner Of Sarah and Thomas streets, went
into the kitchen to light the fire in the stove,
and after several unsuccessful efforts to set
the coal burning, she took half-gallon can
containing a quantity Of coil-oi, and poured
it upon the contents of the stove. thinking
that the fire was all out. Much to her sur
prise and terror, the flames burst out the top
of the stove, and exploded the can, covering
quickly ignited her clothing, and wrapped
her in a sheet of flames. AS she rushed mad
ly into the yard screaming for assistance,
James Riley, her husband, and Celia, her
daughter, who were in an adjoining room,
rushed to her assistance, and seized the burn
ing clothing, and endeavored to smother it
with their hands. In this they were unsuc-
cessiul, and in an instant all three were cry
ing for assistance, the clothing of the
two latter having also caught the
fame. Several neighbors burst open
the gate and came to help them. two of
whom, having heard the cries of fire, brought
buckets of water, which were emptied upon the
PROSTATE form of Mrs. Riley, who had fallen
upon the ground, where she lay groaning and
struggling, only half conscious of the pain
caused by the terrific element as it preyed
upon her clothing. The water, however, ex-
tinguished the fire completely, and those who
rendered her assistance were enabled to help
the other two, who we're by this time suffer-
ing considerably, as the water was some dis
lance away. Two men, named Henry and
Sam Stevens, who had done such noble work,
seized the burning clothing in their hands
and tired to rub out the FIRE. They succeeded
rather slowly, burning their hands and arms
severely, but in the meantime others had ar
rived with water, and the fire was all extin-
guished. A physician was hastily summoned,
and the three who received the greatest in
jury were borne into the house and placed
upon beds. The injured persons constitute
neighbors were obliged to volunteer as
nurses. Mrs. Riley lived but few hours.
The other two members of her family are
very ill, but they are expected to recover.
The Stevens brothers are suffering much pain
from the burns on their hands and arms.