Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1879-12-06
A SAD ACCIDENT.

Ono of the most terrible accidents tina
it has been our sad duty to record happen
ed on False River in tn parish, on Friday
evening the 21st inst, The facts as we
learned them are these Mr.. VIM.
knapps who lives about one mile from
New Road had promised to 90 the next
I morning early wit some friends on Il
duck hunt which was to last for several
days, and he began the necessary prepar-
ations. Late in the aftern Don he bought
ut New Road and took home with him
five pounds of ducking powder with
which he commenced loading his cartrid-
ges, he beng seated for the purpose on the
floor and having the paper containing
the powder spread out before him. While
thus engaged, his three children. all
boys-the oldest s years of age and the
youngest about three years-gatherel
around him. Their mother had gone to
! the kitchen to prepare supper, and rs the
youngest child was in his fnther's way,
his grand-mother, the Widow Fahrc,
came to take the chill! away. Unfortu-
nately for this once happy family the old
lady was smoking pipe. and as she
picked up the little boy, IL spark or coal
five pounds of powder, instantaneously
causing a terrible explosion. Mr. Knap"s,
his three children and his moth cr-i,l-aw
all being most horribly hurncd-thoir
clothing, the beds I'D everything intla-
mable in the room taking fire and being
| envelopcd in flames. Tho explosion, to-
| getlrr with the shricks of the dying and
severely burned, who were running fran
| ticly in every direction, quickly drew
many ncighhors to the spot, and the
burning clothing was stripped from the
| sufferers. Mrs. Fabre and the yonr ges*
| chill were found to he burned almost to a
I crisp from head to fn0t, all their hair and
clothing were burnt off. The whole of
Mr.. Krapp's face, both hands and both
LEGS from the knee down were badly
burned. The second boy was burned
nearly as much as his little b, other ana
his grant. mother. The oldest boy was
| bnrned very much in the Same manner
as his father, although it is thonght not
quite so severity. Thu burning furn tn c,
| clothing and bedding were eNtingu shed
with some difficulty and the building
saved. About IL o'clock the same night
Mrs. Fabre aud little Justin, the young
est. We're relieved from their su!terin~s
by death both of them retained consc,
o,lsness to the last.
The second boy Jules aged about six
yeats died the next night about 9 o'clock.
Mr.. Kmapps and his Oldest boy Joseph
are still lying very low ; but strrnG
! hopes are entertained for the recovery of
| both. Several OF those who went to the
! rescue had their hands burned. This is
certainly the most heart-renAing scene
Which has ever been witnessed in this
| parish.
| without one moments warning this
fatal accident has fallen in the midst Of a
happy family and at one stroke hurled in
! to eternity three of its members, leaving
two OF them in torture and suffering, alit!
| if they recover they will be dIsiigur Il
and possibly crippled for life. Mrs.
Knapps bel: = the only one not burned,
hut sorcly afflicted in heart. All the
bedding ANA clothing Of the family and
| burned.
Mr.. X. and his family. were held in
high esteem by all the neighbors, and
the afflicted family is receiving such as
sistanco as they can give. Surely in such
Il case as this 10 one who has it in his
power Won d fail TO render assistance
I'oiatc C0Wpee Pelican.