Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-27
HORRIBLE DEATH.

pa,,,aIi, Roaaed-A Lady Retains Con-
,e,ou.r,.. apd Await. Her Husbands Com.
ing.
A Denton Md special says: Mr..
Howard Bryant, who was a guest at
the house Of the Rev. jonathan S.
Willis. whose wife was fatally burned
by the explosion of cOal-oil lamp last
Friday night, gave to the american
correspondent Tuesday the following
particulars Of the affair: On the eve
ming of the frightful accident the Rev.
Mr.. Willis was twelve miles from
home at his farm, and no one
was at the house excepting Mrs.
Willis and several dOmestics-Miss
Lizzie Willis and the guests Of the
family, including myself, in Melford. in
attendance at a party given in honor of
the young lady. When we started
home it was near midnight. On near
ing the house we discovered that it was
on fire. The horses were put into a
run, and | saw the. fire bursting from
one of the windows. ran to the pump,
seized a bucket of water. and rushed
upstairs to the room from which
the flames were issuing. The bed
clothing was on fire, and there was a
dense, hot smoke in the room. Dashing
the water on the flames, | ran down
stairs for more water, but when |
returned the interior Of the room was
again in a blaze. | snatched pillow
from the floor and succeeded in beating
out all the fire except that of the burn
ing bed. Miss Willis then rushed into
the room and threw herself on the bed,
trying to smother the flames. | ran to
her assistance, and the fire was put out
and the house saved. Frustrated with
grief, Miss Willis led me into an adj
Joining room and showed me her poor
mother, whom she had dragged from
the flames while | had gone after the
second bucket Of water. | did not see
Mrs. Willis when | first entered the
room. because the flames were between
us, binding me. Her daughter, enter
ing from the opposite side, had seen
her amidst the flames lying PROSTATE
in the corner Of the room. Notwith-
standing her fearful ulering, she was
still conscious, and said. " Lizzie.
YOU have come to save me-" All the
lady's clothing was burned from her
person, and the upper portion Of her
/ body reduced to a crisp. Physicians
were Immediately summoned. The suf-
feror was entirely conscious, though
enduring fearful agony. She said she
was sitting at a window waiting for our
return. She heard US coming and
lighted lamp in the hall. 1t exploded
in her hand, the oil flying all over her
Her clothing caught fire. She ran tC
her room, jumped into the bed. en-.
/ deayoring to smother the fire. Almost
/ stiiIed with smoke, she then ran e
the window for air, and to cal
for help. when the curtains caugh
fire. She then emptied the con
tents of q pitcher on the fire AMI Eel
exhausted to the floor, where she wa
found by her daughter. The unfor
tunate lady lived four hours and half
She refused to take morphia or any
thing that would make her unconscious
as her one desire was that she nigh
live until her husband could reach he
side. She recognized her husband, sooI
after whose arrival She was bcrcit 0
her eyeSight. Drs. Pratt. Marshall
and Witty upon examination pro
nounced the burns fatal, and said thel
could do nothing to ease her last mo
ments. Her remains were carried Il
Barrett's chapel to-day and inferred.
Mrs. Willis was the daughter Of tn
late John Townsend, one Of the wealth.
est men Of Delaware. She was high
ly esteemed by all the country aroun'
for her kind consideration Of the poo
and gentleness and amiability. Sh
was about forty-fye years of age.