The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-11-18
RACHEL MOURNING.
DREADFUL ACCIDENT AT A CHICAGO
BONFIRE.
An Explosion Which Sends Sorrow to Sew,
eral Homes-Seyen Children Fearfully
Burned, Some Fatally--Two
of the Victims Dead.

CAICAGo, Nov. 1s.-An extremely dis,
tresslng accident, of which q number Of
small children were the victims, occurred in
front of 102 West Quincy street at O'Clock
Saturday afternoon. Adam and Run.
nell Poole, brothers, aged respectively
10 and Is years, and living on West
Washington street, near Jefferson, mad pro
cured a barrel which they tried to sell to 2
stoTekeeper ON Desplaines street, but he de.
clined TO purchase because the barrel CON
tanned what appeared to be mixture OF
rosin and turpcntine and some other sub
stance that gave the mass the consistency
and appearance Of thick paint
The boys took the barrel away with the in,
tention Of emptyins it, but subsequently
changed their minds and concluded to make
bonfire Of it, For this purpose they rolled
it to the point on Quincy street already men.
toned, where q crowd Of dozen OF more
children OF both sexes assembled to watch
the blaze. One of the Poole boys lighted a
match, and placed it ia the bung hole, but
the match went cut without ignit-
ing the barrel. A second attempt
set fire 10 the contents and was
instantly followed by a terrific explosion,
which rent the barrel into flaming fragments
and sent them flying in every direction, over
the heads and through the crowd of little
ones standing about A large volume OF
flame accompanied the explosion, and
wrapped itself around the bysianderS,
burning many OF them most cruelty.
Adam Foole's face and head were scorched
almost to Il cinder, and section of a
staye struck him on the temple, making a
large hole. He was taken to the county hos
pital. His brother Bunnell was burned about
the head and arms, He, too was taken tc
the county hospital. Little James Da.ey
only years old, whose parents live at 10.
Quincy street, was burned on the head, face
hands and abdomen. He was removed tC
the CountT hospital by the police
patrol, accompanied by his agonizeG
mother Eddie Burke, 10 years old, Of
81 Quincy street. was burned on the head
face and hands. His sister Maggie 5 year.
old, was burned on the face, hands and logs
Both were taken t. their home Annie
Ward, of No. 6l West Quincy street. q cir
of years. was seriously burned on the head
face, hands and legs. She WIGS cared for a
home. A peculiarly sad feature in heI
case is that a younger sister dieC
from the effects of burns received at a bon
fire week ago
Tn, last victim OF the explosion is Stew,
Hassctt, Il cy, who live; on the second foo
Of ~. He WIGS burned about the face hands
and body, but not So badly rs some Of tn,
others All the chill reu who ware burned
except tho Poole boys, 1--we Oh Quincy street
ja7t west OF Despiaincs The locality is
very poor one, its Inhabitants being for III
most part iaborinE people.
OF thessven children burned two are dead
aud the condition Of four more is critical
Little Jimmy Daily, of 103 West Chine,
street, Giei Sunday afternoon at the CONT,
/ hospital. and Run,ll Poole passed away il
| the morning. Eddie and Maggie Bu.k
are at their home. 81 Quincy street, an,
! seem to be doing little better Both an
| beautiful little Children, and endure thei
| pain like Ht5ie heroes. Some one gave tn
| little girl ) cents, aud she is constantly ask
| ing: Ma, Is you sent for de bank to pit d
| pennies in:' Annie Ward is probably dying
! Her mother was quite confident she woul
not survive. She lay upon her bed wit
| her childish features covered with
linen cloth, upon which the dressin
was applied, and not a murmur escaped fror
her lips, although her body is frightfull
burned. Her scmi-conscious condition an
the blackonimg of her lips indicate, however
that death is near. Adam Poole is at t.!
county hospital and will probably recove
| from his injuries.