The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-05-30

SINGULAR AND SERIOUS ACCIDENT
The .Tohnstown Tribune of Monday furnishes
the following particulars of strange and
shocking accident (being no less than the
mysterious and unaccountabl explosion of a
quantity of Stacked lime and the serious
burning and possible binding for life of one
/ or more of the parties upon whom the lime
was precipitated), which occurred in that
place on Monday forenoon. The tribune
says
the rumor that an explosion Of lime had taken place
on the premises Of DR.. A. N Wakefield, on motifs
street Fifth Ward. by which that gentleman, his
little son Earl aged between three and four years,
and a young nurse-girl named Clara Leber, daugh-
street were shockingIy burned. The first reports
rather wild and vague, being TO the effect
that the Doctor had succumbed and another that
all three were dying. but although much exaggerd-
ted they not without foundation We visited
the Doctors residence at noon to-day. when we
7-,,at Tt1.+ii Eo5 evgo,red n coIore1 man named
Rideout to do some whitewashing about his prem
ises this afternoon. and the necessary lime having
been purchased several days ago and permitted 70
about halfpast 9 o'clock that the better plan Won
be to slack it at once, and have it ready for the
man when he should come to do the work. A h1li
bushel of lime placed in a small nsh-baTrel
over which the Doctor poured a gallon OF water
Little Earl aud Miss Ieber standing close Dy,
witnessing the operation of slackeni ng Ihe water
being soon taken up by the lime the Doctor pro
cured another bucketful. which he slowly poured
into the barrel stirring the contents the while win
a stick. After the bucket was emptied ne stood
and the two children also approached and looked
in, when suddenly there was dull report, lnstan-
taneously followed by an upheayel Oi the HIne
which flew into their faces and scattered over the
yard for distance OF twenty feet round about the
barrel.
The Doctors eyes we're filled with the hot. caustic
substance, which completely blinded him; his nose
and forehead were dreadfully burned. as also were
10th of his hands and arms and he inhaled con
siderable quantity Of the hot steam which arose
from the lime. While cropping his way to the ny
drant in the hope Of gaining relief by the appIica-
ton Of water the little boy began crying pteousy
The Doctor in his agony had not thought OF the
child. whose burns proved TO be very serious; one
eve being blinded. the skin being burned on the
left side Of his face and neck, and his little 23re
feet receiving quantity Of the lime as II Dolled
over the edge Of the barrel The little girl was only
slightly burned, her eyes fortunately escaping ana
she was able to walk home soon after the accident
The whole neighborhood was soon alarmed, and
large number Of people assembled on the premises.
the victims A messenger had been dispatched
for DR.. George w. Wagner, DR.. Wakeheld's part
soon followed by Dr. s. VI. Swan. who had heard of
the accident the street and went up 70 see II ne
could be Of any assistance. The sufferers faces
first washed with diluted vinegar, ana after
ward thoroughly coated over with llnseed OIL 10
protect the denuded skin from the air An efort
was then made to ascertain the extent oI the IN
juries to the victims eyes, but the eNamlnatl tlon
caused them such intense agony that the physi-
When we called to see them they were lying on
beds in separate rooms. the windows OF which were
darkened. The child's face was raw and Unnamed,
the injured eve was swollen shut and his meanings
were pitfIl 70 hear The Doctor was suffering IN
tenseiv also his ewes paining him almost beyond
endurance He is in hopes that the sight is not in
iured, but fears that it may be. DIR. Wagner In
forms us that the burns being only skin deep. no
permanent Disagreement of the sufferers counten-
viii result He Il only alarmed Tor the safe
ty Of their eyc-sight.
couutable one. nobody with whom we have talked
being able to offer explanation or even 10 put
thrown out of the barrel probably half Of itremaln-
ing undisturbed.