Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-10-16
PETERSBURG AND VICINITY.
SAD KEROSENE ACCIDENT.


Tsr,b,, FAN From Rsef-A Citizen Fatally
uojor,d- sentence or wifs-Bssses-0sher
Niss,ess.
fCosrespondence oftbe Richmond Dispstch.l
PETERSBURG, October Is, 1885.
A dreadful accident occurred here
last night between the hours Of 0 and
10 O'Clock, resulting this morning in
the loss of three lives. Mr.. James
Cook, an employee at the Appomattox
Foundry, resided, with his wife and
three children, a happy family, on Rose
street, in the western portion of the
city. Shortly before s o'clock he babe
them good-by and went to attend
services at the First Baptist church.
Shortly after Q o'clock his wife, be-
lieving that it was near time for him to
return home, started to kindle fire
for his comfort; but, unfortunately, in
doing so she used kerosene oil, pouring
the fluid from can. There were some
embers in the fireplace, which caused
the oil to ignite and explode the can.
Mrs. Cooks clothes were Immediately
atame all about her person, and were
completely burned off Of her. Her
three childron-a daughter, aged nine
years i; son, aged eleven; and a
baby-were all in the same room-the
latter asleep in her cradle. The room
was soon ablaze, but the door, it is
said, was bolted, and in the confusion
caused by the fire, and increased by
the agony of the burning inmates, they
could not open it. The mother, amidst
all her suffering, tried to save her chill
dren. She seized the baby from the
cradle, but in doing so set its clothes
on fire. The screams Of the lady and
the children aroused the neighbors,
who burst open the door and rendered
such assistance as they could. The
boy was saved, though painfully burned
about the hands and arms. Mrs. Cook
had only strength enough left to stagger
out and fall upon the steps. The eldest
daughter was also found to be dread
fully burned and the baby scarcely
alive. The crib and mattress from
which the latter had been taken were
burned to cinders. Physicians were
called in as quickly as possible, but they
at once saw that medical skill would be of
no avail. The injuries Of the mother and
two daughters were too terrible, both
external and internal, to be borne.
This morning between the hours Of 4
and o'clock all three of them died
quickly in succession. The boy will
recover. Mr.. Cook returned home soon
after the accident, and the terrible
shock that he experienced on learning
what had happened during his brief alb
sence completely Frustrated him, and
has made him i'll. The aged mother of
Mrs. Cook, who arrived here this morn
ing from the country, has also been
sadly affected by the accident, which,
taking it altogether, is one Of the sad
dest that has happened in this city for
a long time.
ANOTHER PROBABLY FATAL ACCT
DENT.
Another accident of a very painful
and probably fatal character occurred
here this afternoon. Mr.. ID. o. Thomas,
a very worthy citizen, while engaged
in roofing the house of Mr.. j. X. Will
hanson, at the corner Of Market and
Old streets, lost his hold and FELL dis
lance Of between 25 and 80 feet to the
pavement. His left thigh was fractured
in two places, and some Of the nails in
the old shingles which had been thrown
down from the roof were driven into
his head. They have all been re-
but the injuries are regard
ed as exceedingly dangerous. Mr..
Thomas is ayoung man of fine con-
stitution, and may be able to survive
his injuries. Several years ago, while
the roof Of large mill in the
western portion Of the city, he had a
fall without accident, which was one Of
the most remarkable on record. lie
shot down from the sharply-inclined
roof, fully sixty feet above ground,
turned number Of somersaults in the
descent, passed between two heavy
beams spanning the mill race-course,
and dropped into the water. Those
who witnessed the fall expected to find
mangled corpse, but, to their surprise,
they found Mr.. Thomas unhurt in the
least, and apparently refreshed by his
bath.
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.
The Hastings Court met in quarterly
term to-day at IL o'clock, Judge Jo-
seph S. Budd presiding. The resolu-
tons adopted by the bar in respect to
the memory of the late Judge E. NJ.
Mann were presented to the Court by
Alexander Donnan and Colonel F. IL.
Archer, the committee appointed for
that purpose, each Of whom made a
feeling and eloquent address upon the
character Of the deceased as man and
Judge. The presiding judge ordered
that the resolutions be spread upon the
records of the court, and then, as a
further tribute to the late judge, ad-
journed court for the day. Tomorrow
the court will take up its docket, which
is an important one.
The mayor this morning sentenced
Edward Smith, white man, to six
months Imprisonment in Jail and to
pay a fine Of $50 for beating his wife
last night. Mrs. Smith is said to have
been very cruelty beaten by her hus-
band.
The Republicans Of this city are
making close, personal canvass. Com.
mittees are visiting aud locating every
voter. ROBIN ADAIR.
NORFOLK.