The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1885-09-18
A SHOCKING FATE.

Mrs. Helen II, Hoyt. wife of "a New Yors
Physician, Burned to Death Through
Spark Igniting Her Clothing : Narrow
Estape of a Lady Friend In her Enores 20
Quench the Flames.
NEW York, September ] /. The tragic
death of Mrs. Helen X. Hoyt at $50 west
Thirtieth street was reported 10 coroner
Levy yesterday. Mrs, Hoyt was the vile
of Dir. w. ID. Hoyt. They had been mar
ried but short time. The house ln
which they lived is handsome nat Oh
the first floor, and is furnished with TASTE
and elegance. About4 80 Tuesday even
| ing Mrs. Hoyt, in the absence OF her
| husband, undertook to stir Inc
furnace with poker. AS she did
so a spark few out and fell on her lace
dress. In an ins ant the young iaoy's
clothing was in flames. Her screams fe'
echoed through the house as she ran up
to the rooms in the second -stery, occu-
pied by her friend, Mrs. Frances Ruger.
When the lady opened the door MIS-
Hoyt, crazed with fright and pain, lnrew
herself upon her. Mrs. Ruger fell aach
and Mrs. Hoyt ran into the room. With
|
table cover over her, hoping thus
to smother the flames. Mrs,
Ruger herself was clad in very
light dress and had to act with great eau
tion to avoid catching fire herself. Her
embarrassment was increased by Mrs.
, Hoyt's constant endeavor to embrace
] her. Mrs. Hoyt cried, "Help, am dy-
ingl" Mrs. Ruger caught up heavy
rug that lay before the fireplace, but be-
fore she could place it over the table
cover Mrs. Hoyt had thrown the latter
aside and ran trantica1ly from one room
10 another the current OF air created by
her flight tanning the flames. Mrs.
Ruger called her servant and the two
women tried vainly 10 control their uu-
fortunate neighbor. They repeatedly
: attempted to throw blankets and quilts
over her, but always with the same lack
of success. As Mrs. Hoyt ran through
: Mrs Ruger's apartments she set fire to
y the carpet in places, and also ignited the
q cover of q bureau in bedroom. THESE
9 little fires were extingushed without
!. much trouble. Having reached Mrs.
e Ruger's rearmost room, Mrs. Hoy'
L turned and ran back, screaming "mur
derl' She dashed into the hall through
the door by which she had entered. Mrs
Ruger followed her to call for help
Again Mrs. Hoyt tried to grasp Mrs
Ruger. This time her movement was 81
Id sudden that Mrs. Ruger had. no chance Z
Or protect herself She struggled in th'
re fierce grasp of her friend, whose glow
95 ing garments almost touched he
as own. In the contest both wome
moved along the head of the stairs
Mrs. Ruger trying to escape aud Mrs
Hoyt holding her back with Immature
ST strength, and both shrieking. Suddenl
y. Mrs. Ruger's foot caught in her skirt
n, and she fell down the stairs, draggin
s, Mrs. Hoyt after her. In the lower ha
" Mrs. Hoyt's fingers relaxed their despe
u, ate hold, and when both ladies scramble
llt to their feet, Mis- Ruger freed herself
* As she staggered back, faint and breath
be less, against the wall, Mrs. Hoyt dashet
lie into the street. Her clothing by tha
in time was almost burned from her person
we She turned toward Ninth avenue, expect
, a ing, it is supposed, to find DR.. Hoyt in
lc- drug store on the corner, where he goe
occasionally. In front of DR. Living:
TOMS office, few doors from her ow
es residence, Mrs HoYt tripped and fell.
W teamster, who was passing, lumpe
5, down from his seat and envelope
ar her in horse blanket. All this ha
hit happened in far less time than it r.
of quired to tell it. DIR. Hoyt can
,ct along as the blanket was throw
we over her. She was carried to drt
store, and several physicians who Ii
,op in the neighborhood offered their Sc
vices. They found that Mrs. Hoyi
~. legs, breast aud abdomen were horrit
ne burned. After the usual applicatio
In she was carried back to her hon
the where she died at GAS yesterday mol
The ing The deceased was twenty-thr
ers years old, attractive in person, and b
,ud a large circle OF friends. DIR. Hoyt
~ prostrated with grief. Mrs. Ruger s
,eiy fered little by her fall, but was in mel
ors Gus, exhausted state yesterday.