Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-02-24
4 DISTRESSING ACCIDENT.
Two Young Ladies Fatally Burned Death
OF n WeiI-known Ciuzen.

Two Young Ladies Fatally Burned Dealt
ofa weil.Known Ciuzen.
Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch
PETERSBURG, Feb. %, 1885.
A most distressing accident occurred
about noon to-day at the residence Of
Mrs. c. NJ. Clay. on Washington near
South street, which, it is feared, may
result in the death Of two Of that lady S
daughters-Miss Bertha Clay, aged
about twenty-five years. and Miss Sal
lie aged about eighteen.
The two young ladies were engaged
at the time in performing some duties
in the dining-roem--one of them, it is
said, polishing the mantel with a liquid
polish. The vessel containing the fluid
was accidentally overturned against the
stove, and caught into blaze, and the
contents were emptied and spread upon
the floor about the feet of the ladies'.
The clothing Of Miss Bertha was set
on fire, and she ran from the
room to her mothers chamber above,
tanning the flames as she fed. Miss
Sallie, the younger, ran after her sister,
and her clothes also caught fire as she
followed her sister and endeavored to
cXtinguish the flames in which she was
enyeloped. The screams of the young
ladies and the cries of their mother for
help aroused the ncighbors, and sew
eral persons rushed to the aid of the
sufferers. DR.. ID. W. lassiter, who for
tuuately happened to be driving by at
the time. went to the assistance of the
ladies. Divesting himself of his
cloak, he succeeded. after considerable
effort. in smotheriDg the fire, which had
burned its way through the clothing of
both Of the young ladies, and had left
them in a most distressing condition.
The Doctor, in his efforts TO render aid,
was himself burned, but sustained no
serious injuries. The elder of the sis
tiers, Miss Bertha, was so badly injured
as to be barely recognizable, while Miss
Sallie'S plight was hardly more encour-
aging. Both of them were almost strip
ped Of clothing, and while the external
injury and Disagreement of each are
horrible, Miss Bertha inhaled the
flame, and is burned internally. Miss
Sallie was conscious for a short time,
but Miss Bertha has been insenSible
ever since the occurrence and appears
TO be sinking rapidly. Tho physicians
who were summoned hold out no hope.
and pronounce both ladies fatally burn
ed. Miss Bertha for some months past
has been teaching in Chesterfield county
Miss Sallie resides with her mother. The
sisters are young ladies Of marked per-
sOnal beauty, and are refined and accom-
plished members Of society. They have
many warm friends in this city.
The terrible calamity which has be-
fallen them has been town-talk all day.
A fact bearing upon this occurrence
which adds a mournful interest to it is
this: Their brother, Mr.. Z. WitherS
Clay, was to have been married in Nor
folk on Wednesday to a young lady OF
that city, and the event had been pleas
antly anticipated by the sisters.
Mr.. Il. ID. Wilson, a wcll-known and
much-reSpectcd citizen. died this after
noon of consumption, after protracted
illness. He was tifty-seyen years of
age. and leaves a widow and daughter.
He had for many years conducted the
carriage-manufacturing business here,
and was a valuable citizen.
There has been no observance of the
Odd here, with the exception of parade
of some of the military companies and
a target practice.
DEATH OF MISS BERTHA CLAY.
special telegram to the Dispatch.l
PETERSBURG. Va. February 23.-
Miss Bertha Clay died tonight. No
hopes are entertained for her sisters
recovery.