Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1885-08-28
TERRIBLE CATASTROPHE.
THE WIFE OF A WELL KNOWN
PREACHER BURNED TO DEATH.


PREACHER BURNED TO DEATH.
Last Friday night the Rev. J. S
Willis was detained at his large farm
near Frederick. and his daughter, Miss
Lizzie, went to Il tea-party at Dr. Pref.
tyman's, leaving her mother ut home
alone, except the OOlOFed servants
A bout eleven o'clock Mrs. Willis, bear.
ing the carriage coming up the road,
lighted a lamp and started down stairs
with it when the lamp exploded, scat
tering the burning oil all over her.
Her light clothing was at once in a
blaze, she rushed to the window and
Miss Lizzie and Mr.. Howard Bryant,
of Philadelphia, who was with her,
seeing the light whipped up the horse
surprising the house was OH fire. Miss
Lizzi6finnl up stairs calling to Mr..
Bryant to bring water. It was not till
he had thrown 2 bucket on the fam
ing curtains that they discovered Mrs.
Willis condition. She rushed into
another room but Miss Lizzie followed
her and smOthered the fire with the
bed clothing while Mr.. Bryant extin-
guished the flames that had caught
in several places about the ROOM. Mrs.
Willis was burned beyond recognition.
DIR. Pratt was sent for at once, but he
could dc. nothing but ease her suffering
by the use of Opiates. She retained
her consciousness till fifteen minutes
before her death, which occurred about
I a. IN. On Saturday, and was able to
tell just how the accident happened.
Mr.. Willis arrived about an hour be-
fore her death, and was perfectly
stunned by his great and sudden be-
reavement. She recognized and spoke
to him before she died.
The funeral services took place at
her late residence ON Tuesday last at
o'clock p. m. and were conducted by
Rev. Mr.. MOwbray, assisted by Revs.
Mr.. Mildly, Robinson and Underwood.
Nearly one thousand people attended
the services at the house, most of whom
followed her remains to Barrett's |
Chapel. where she was inferred by the
side of her father. The Church was
draped in black, and bus
mess was entirely suspended in Fred
erica as the cOrtege passed sOlemnly
the town on its way to the
grave. Many prominent persons were
present, among whom we noticed Gov.
Secretary of State Causey,
and ex-Gov. Hall. The pall-bearers
were Hon. F. w. CaHsey, DR.. Nathan
PTatt,and Mr.. Frank Richards, of Mil
ford. and Mr.. Robert Reynolds, DR.. B.
and Capt. Supple, OF Freder-
lea. The casket was covered with
beautiful floral offerings, contributed
by kind and loving friends.
Nothing has ever happened in Mil
iord that has cast such Q gloom over
he community as the death of Mrs.
Willis. All amusements were checked
md several parties for which the invi-
,atiOns were out were indefinitely
The desOlate husband and
have the heartfelt sympathy
md prayers Of the whole community
n their sad afiiictiOn.
Mrs. Willis was the daughter of
Townsend, Esq. of Frederick,
nd was forty-two years, two months
md two days of age. She was the
ofsix children, three ofwhom
lied in infancy. OF the remaining
hree but one, Mrs. Nathaniel Smith
RS, Of Dover, survives. Mrs. Willis
mother was Elizabeth Barratt, who
Vas the daughter Of John Barratt and I
granddaughter of Philip Barratt, who +
onated the land for the erection Of 3