The Osceola times., 1885-09-19
A SHOCvING FATE

urs. Helen X. Hoyt, Vile o,.
hyse's"' b"rnel to Death Thr ,n.n
Spark lighting Her Clothing usha
E-cape OF a Lady Friend In Her rg''~
Quench the Flames.
NEW YORK, September 1.-THE ,,
death of Mrs. Helen X. Hoyt at AGA s@ w
Thrtieth street was reported IN Cos.
Levy yesterday. Mrs Hoyt was ,ha
Of DIR. W. ID. IIoyt They had been nv. "e
ried but a short time. The honsa =
which they lived is a handsome A., ~
The first floor, and is furnished with ,..,'
and elegance. Abor 1880 tuesday sv.s
ing Mrs. Hoyt in the absence Of b..
husband, undertook to stir A.
furnace with poker. As sbs ds
so a spark flew out aud fell on her ,...
dress. In an ins ant the young ladv,.
clothing was In flames. Her scre,m...
echoed through the house as she ran :.
to the rooms in the second stcry, occr
pied by her friend, Mrs. Frances Rn,or
When the lady opened the door NJ.
Hoyt, crazed with fright and pain. ,hr.r
herself upon her. Mrs. Ruger fell bacl
and Mrs. Hoyt ran into the room. VITA
much difficulty Mrs. Ruger threw be.v,
table cover over her, hoping TIM.
TO smother the flames. Mr.,
Ruger herself was clad in n vs,,
light dress and had to act with great can.
tion to avoid catching fire herself He,
embarrassment was increased by Mrs
Hoyrs constant endeayor to embrace
her. Mrs. IIoyt cried. "IIelp, am DIV.
ing" Mrs. Ruger caught up a heay,
rug that lay before the fireplace, but he.
fore she could place 1t over the table
cover Mrs. Hoyt had thrown the latte,
aside aud ran irant!cally from one room
TO another, the current Of air created b,
her flight tanning the flames. Mrs
Ruger called her servant and the two
women tried vainly 10 control their nm.
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 "a
the carpet In places, and also iguited the
cover of bureau in bedroom. These
little fires were extinguished. without
much trouble. Having reached Mrs.
Ruger's rearmost room, Mrs. IIoyt
turned aud ran back, screaming "mur.
derlh She dashed into the hall through
the door by which she had entered Mrs.
Rugcr followed her to call for help
Again Mrs Hoyt tried to grasp Mrs
Ruger. This time her movement was 8,
sudden that Mrs. Ruger had no chance 10
protect herself she struggled in the
fierce grasp OF her friend, whose glow.
ing garments almost touched her
own. In the contest both women
moved along the head OF the stairs,
Mrs Ruger trying to escape and Mrs
Hoyt holding her back with unnatural
strength, and both shriekng Suddenly
Mrs. Ruger's foot caught in her skirts
and she fell down the stairs, dragging
Mrs. lioyt after her. In the lower hall
Mrs. Iioyl's fingers relaxed their desper.
ate hold and when both ladies' scrambled
to their feet, MIS- Ruger freed herself
As she staggered back, faint aud breath.
less, against the wall, Mrs. llogt dashed
into the street. Her clothing by that
lime was almost burned from her person.
She turned toward Ninth avenue, expect.
ing, ii Is supposed, TO lind DR.. Hoyt in a
drug store on the corner, where ne goes
occasionally. In front of DR. Livings.
toms Office, few doors from her own
residence, Mrs lloyt tripped aud fell. A
teamster, who was passing, jumped
down from his seat and enyelopei
her in horse-b anket. All this rad
happened in far less time ihln 1t re.
quired TO tell 1t. DR. lloyt came
along as the blanket was thrown
over her. She was carried to drug
store, aud several physicians who live
In the neighborhood offered their SER
vices, They found that Mrs. lIoyts
legs, breast aud alb lomen were horribly
burned. After the usual applications
she was carried back to her home,
where she died al 6:45 yesterday mora
ing. The deceased was twcnty-three
years old, at ractive in person, and bad
large circle Of friends DR.. lIOyt Is
prostrated with gref. Mrs Ruger SUI.
iered little by her f,ll, but was ia a uery-
Gus, exhausted state Yesterday.