Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1879-08-21

Dedth OF FT0hE IH0rtnl-A h0"flOtG scene.
Never since We have had charge of this
paper have we been compelled to chronicle
a more heartrending scene than occurred
alongside our office on Thursday afternoon
last about 3 three O'Clock, than the burning
by coal oil of Frank Martin, only son Of
John E. Martin, former proprietor of the
store in the rear of which the sad accident
occurred.
Being an eyewitness we can give the
particulars as we saw them. MIR. Adels'
perger, the present proprietor of the store'
has a peanut rooster and has persons regu
larly employed to operate it. The machine
is situated just outside the back door of his
shop. Although these parties have sole
charge of 1t inquisitive boys will congre-
gate about it, Notwithstanding they are in
variably driven off by Mr.. A., but only to
return again. On this occasion they
were sent away frequently but returned just
Adesperger, having fixed the fire and saw
that things were all right retired to the
store to take a nap. Frank by this time
returned again and made IN examination of
the fire, as he had often done before when,
his father owned it, and thinking it not
burning quite bright enough stepped into
the store, picked up the oil can, and not
withstanding the protestations of the other
boys Immediately commenced pouring
quantity on the fire, charcoal one. The
flames ignitcd with the oil in the can, and
Il report, similar to that OF gnn, and
oul cry, soon brought US to the window.
Horror OF horrors what was il ? 4 human
being cnvclopcd in flames rushing around
tic end Of the house crying at the top Of
his voice. He ran into the store on the
other side of the building were Mr.. Adels
pcrgcr made an unsuccessful attempt to
smother the flames with a blanket. Gus.
Hahn. who was in the store at the time.
had has hands badly burned in trying to
tear the burning clothes off the poor boy
He WAS tinai}y placed in the pump trough,
near by, ana water pumped vigorously upon
fore lie WAS severely burned. The cries of
the poor little ft low rs he vat in that pump
trough with his sCorchci face turned up
Wringlng his lacrritcd hands, the flesh and
skin pccing Of thcm al the time, can only
We realized by lho>" who saw him. He was
then taken tD his nome, where his neither
and his sisters lhs ta;hcr being absent from
home at the tiilr, bat was Immediately dis
patched ier), who had already been appris-
cd of the fact, met he party at the door
nth s}rieks that only persons in deep dis
trcss can give Dr.. White was promptly
on hand and did everything in his power
to relieve the sufferer He lad strong
hopes OF his recovery then, but change
took place in the night, and by six O'Clock
next morning Franz who VAS 80 happy
ana bright lhc day before, was a corpse.
The can which he held III his hand was
\ gallon one, hut only contained about a
! pint at the time Of the explosion. II Wac
blown entirely to pieces AMI a part carried
over q high fence whcle itcamc n contact
with a window pane in house shiv"riNg
it to atoms. 1t is supposed very little Of
the Gil got on the boy, but Ii, II. Il; cloth
. ing proved an easy prey for the devoNring
element, None OF The ether boys we're in
] 81 ', II
/ Scarcely minute elapsed after the expo.
sion until up"2r Is IF fifty p"opc arrived
nj the scene OF tlIa accident II ever there
Was family who dsscrYG the sympathy
! oG Il community on the death OF one Of its
members, ii certainly e Mr Martins, as
! Frank was overly Gtirotloa,dr to his pa.
rents and they to him And he being the
only son makes the bow still heavier.
| The iuncr,l was preached on Sunday in
the Lutheran church, thc auditorium of
which was drnscy crowded with sympa-
thining friends. The funeral was one oi
! the largest We have seen here for years -
! The Lutheran Sabbath school, of which he
! was enc Of the most regular attendants,
marched in body. RcY Wire preached
very bcautiiul sermon touching warmly
ON tie many good qualities Of the boy,
who, though young in years, was strictly
moral and was never heard to utter an oaO,
The CHER sang some very appropriate
music. Notwithstanding it WAS raining
4 uitc hard at the time quite number Of
persons followed the remains to the Hill
I Cemetery where they were inferred.
No possible blame can be attached to
Mr.. AdGlspcrgor, as he was entirely igno
rant of the boys being there until the OK
ploson took place,
SABBATH School CoNvENTIoN.-
The Western and the Middle Confer
ences Of the Synod Of Maryland, will
hold, D. v, Sabbath School Con-
vention, in the Lutheran Church Of
Mechanicstown Frederick county,
Maryland on the Sd, 18th and 9TH Of
September, 1879.
FIRST Session. "Wednesday Eren-
ing, Sept 8, 1880 o'c1ock-" The
Yro,,or JGea on1 Srhere of tho Sab.