The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-11-18
Burning Coal Oil.
FOUR LIVES LOST THROUGH RECK-
LESSNESS IN A BOARDING-HOUSE.

| IONN LII ' iIS IbSI IIihOUGH hECK-
LESsNESs IN A BoARDING-HOUSE.
Bradford, November IL. - One of
| the most sickening horrors of any
that has occurred in this vicinity took
place near Bordell, ten miles south of
! Bradford, last night. In a narrow
ravine J. G. Brown aud son, formerly
Of Lock Haven, have q saw-mill To-
Gated. They employ eighteen men in
and around the mill. As sleeping
apartments the men occupied two
story frame building, twelve by six
teen. In the centre of the small first
floor room was q stove in which the
men had been in the habit of quicken
ing the fire with crude oil after gather
ing it at night. Shortly before 10 last
night there were eight men up stairs
and four below. Henry Rankey
seized small can of oil and began
pouring the fluid into the stove. The
flames flashed to the can, burning
Rankcy's hand, and he hurled the can
from him into corner of the room.
a large pail full of crude oil was
standing there, and the burning fluid
splashed in all directions. In an in
slant the entire front part Of the lower
room was sheet of fire, cutting off
communication with the door. The
men below hastily warned those aloft
Of their peril and run through the fire
from the building. The upper room
had but one small rear window and
through this was their only means of
escape. So rapidly did the fire encir-
Gle all parts of the building that
but five of the men above succeeded in
making egress. The other three were
roasted alive. Their names were
Elliott Brown, J. Hyde and Barnabas
Haley. When the fire had spent its
fury the charred trunk of the first
named was found laying across the
stove. Hyde and Haley lay side by
side in the corner. The arms and
limbs TO the thighs of all the men were
gone. The bodies were black and un-
recognizable. Brown was q native of
Jasper, n. Y, Hyde of Scio, N. Y.
Haley's name was assumed, and his
real name and home are unknown.
All of the five who escaped through
the window were terribly burned
about the face, neck, arms and body.
The last one in getting out, James
Bardy, fell upon sharp stump, cut
ting hole in his back four inches in
length. His face, arms and neck
were perfectly raw. He fingered in
agony indescribably until II O'Clock
to-day, when death came to his re-
lief. His home was in Mexican
county, The others injured are as
follows: Willard Frsbie, burned on
the hands, face and hips; will prob
ably recover. His home is in Albion,
Illinois. Henry Monroe, burned on
the back and breast very severely;
will not survive. He is native of
Jasper, n, Y. Frank Welsh, face
shOckingly and neck and arms pain
fully burned; recovery doubtful, His
home is in Dallas, Pa. Charles Smith
arms, neck and back seriously; hopes
of recovery. He is a resident of Bor-
dell. Joseph Heeps, hands and face
painfully burnt; not critical His
home is in Clinton county, Pa. AS
soon alter the casualty as possible ply
sicians from neighbOring towns were
summoned and exerted their skill to
the utmost for the relief of the
wounded. Coroner Dean held an in
quest to-day and the jury found Il
verdict of accidental death by the
careless handling OF oil. When the
fire was discovered by persons of the
vicinity, they hastened to the scene,
but were powerless to check the
flames. No cries were heard from the
men who perished in the destroyed
building.
--Subsoribe for THE nUaCAr