The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-06-03
A Hcart.Rcnding Accident.
Correspondence GrccnriUc Ncms.

CoKEsBURY, S. c., May 25, 1880.
Our town has just been the scene of
most heart-rending tragedy. About 6
o'clock this morning an alarm of fire
startled our people, who rushed from
their homes to carry aid wherever it
might be needed. Smoke was seen issu-
ing from the doors and windows of Mrs.
Glass residence. A colored man, Henry
Owens, was the first to reach the spot.
He rushed into the house, threw open
the door of the room, from which the
flames were bursting, and saw Miss Lille
M. Glass wrapt in flames, in her mothers
arms. With heroic forgetfulness of self,
he tore the young lady from her mother,
and wrapt her in q piece of oil cloth
which was lying near. Others came in,
and the flames were extinguished, but
not until the unfortunate sufferer was
fatally burned.
During the excitement and horror i'm
mediately succeeding the awful tragedy,
no one was able to discover the origin of
the fire, but it was ascertained that Miss
Lille had gone into the stove room (the
servant being sick) for the purpose of
preparing the morning meal, and while
kindling the fire, took up the can of
kerosene oil, and poured from it or the
wood. The flames caught the oil, and
the burning fluid was thrown over her
clothing. She rushed into her mothers
room, covered with fire, the flames leap.
ing high above her head.
Her sister, Miss Julia Glass, seized her
and threw her on feather bed and was
endeavoring to smother the flames, when
Mrs. Glass, urged to desperation by her
daughters cries, and mothers love,
seized the burning girl in her arms, and,
regardless of the flames which had al
ready been communicated to her own
clothing, and which were inaicting ter
rible wounds on her own person, fought
the devouring fire, until finding her eff.
forts fruitless, she threw her arms around
her child, and but for the timely arrival
and noble conduct of the colored man
mentioned above, she would undoubtedly
have received fatal injuries.
Never has it been nly lot to witness
such heart-rending scenes. Never has
our community been called upon to wit
ness suffering so utterly indescribable.
The sad misfortune is scarcely sur.
passed by the recent deplorable accident
in the Atlanta theatre. In quiet town
a widowed mother and her two daught-
ers, without moments warning become
the victims of torturing flames. While
write the mother lies quieted- by chlo-
riform, or convulsed by suffering which
cannot be described; in another room
one daughter writhes in agony, while in
another the youngest daughter lies-dy-
ing.
A deep feeling of sorrow pervades our
whole community, and the stricken fam
lily have the heartfelt sympathy of all.
Mrs. Glass has, for years, been principal
of our Female School, and her daughter,
Miss Lille, who is aged about 20 years,
was her assistant. All her know Mrs.
Glass loves her, and Miss Lille is gen.
eral favorite with young and old alike.
| She ia an amiable and accomplished
young lady. and a consistent member of
the Episcopal Church. Her gentle, lady
like bearing has endeared her to all, aud
we feel deeply for her in this dreadful
afliction. w. A. NJ.
LATER.-A1iss Lille Glass died to-day
at Ills g. m. The injuries of Miss Julia
are not considered dangerous, though very
painful. Mrs. Glass is still exceedingly
i'll. Her injuries, though confined to the
arms and lower limbs, are pronounced
very serious. DR.. F. F. Gary has been
with the sufferers ever since the accident
occurred, and will do whatever human
skill can accomplish to alleviate their
sufcrings.