Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-05-22
DEATH IN The FLAMES.
Terrible Explosion Of Gasoline on
Tuesday Night.
CHARLES PETERSON BURNED TO
A CRISP.


Charles Peterson, a Swedish tailor,
employed by Erickson & Anderson,
manufacturing tailors. IN the rear Of
bl9 Post street, was burned TO death
last night, Tuesday, May 10Th, and
Charles Lundquist, Olaf Erickson,
Victor Anderson, Joseph Locks, anu
Louisa 5andstcn were very severely
burned and otherwise injured. The
fire was caused by Joseph Locks, m
employe Of the shop, pouring i've
gallon canful Of gasoline into a supply
tank which was attached 10 n heated
stove. The gasoline had only Just been
delivered, and Locks In joking way
picked up tho can and commenced TO
pour II into the tank, when n few
drops spaticrcd on the stove and ignited.
Just what happened then no one
clearly knows, but Erickson, one OF the
injured men, thinks that Locks became
excited over the sight OF the flames
and, not knowing or caring what he
did, dropped the can upon the stove
and sought safety IN flight. The can
had hardly touched this stove when nm
explosion took place, aud flying pieces
OF tin carried the flames In every direc-
ton Ia tho little room In which the
stove was located and In which Elk men
were working.
MB. Louisa Sandsten, the mother
in.law Of Erickson, was bending over
the stove, and was about the nrst per-
ton 10 be envclopcd In tho blazing
gasoline. She rushed for the door but
that avenue OF escape was cut OIL
by n scOthlng mass OF flames,
and she started back toward the
side window, where she stood undc.
tcrmined IA 10 what 10 do, but with
the flames drawing nearer and nearer
every instant. by this time Robert
Thorn and Thomas Mngec, employed
In the Phmnlx Insurance Office, heard
the explosion hnd SAW this smoke and
rushed In from Post street Just In time
10 sec the flames creeping up on tho
skirta OF Mrs. SandAlon. They begged
her to jump, and, after much persua-
ton, she finally did 70 aud was caught
In the arms OF Thorn AMI Aiagee. AZ.
ter carrying theinJurcd woman to the
street they again returned and rescued
Mrs. Charles Peterson from u shed on
which she had jumped when she first
saw the name.. She sustained
very severe injuries 10 her back,
and wns removed TO the home
OF Mrs. Armstrong, on the cor
ner Of Taylor and Post streets.
by this time officer Amos Williams
had turned In nm alarm from box 37l,
and when the members of the hro de-
partment arrived they found the house
mass of flames ami half dozen In.
Jured people strcwn about the yard,
suffering FROM burns and tho injuries
they had received by jumping from the
windows. Erickson, Lunuqulat and
Anderson were taken 10 tho drug store
on the corner OF Mason and Post
streets, where everything possible TO
nllay their suiicrings was done, while
Mrs. Sandstcn and Victor Anderson,
who were too badly burned 10 be- moved
far, were placed upon tho sidewalk
with their heads resting on pillows,
which had been kindly furnished by
sympathiking ncighbors. Clothes and
cotton batting soaked In oil were placed
ON tho burned parts and cheerful
tidings OF their friends were given
them 10 ease their minds. The patrol
wagon was summoned and the In.
jured people were sont 10 the hos
pital IN quickly as possible. The regu.
lar hospital physicians, DIS. A. T..
O'Brien and Berry, were soon nj work
administering 10 the wants Of the In.
jurod, and were assisted by Drs. Kuss
and Jerome Hughes, who happened to
be In the neighborhood, aud who
volunteered their services.
Mrs. Erickson and a couple OF friends
were In back room, aud they
managed 10 escape without serious In.
Jury. Fred Borgstrom, tho only
one Of tho employees In tho
workshop who escaped without In
jury, does not know how no got out,
but Messrs. Thorn and Magee caught
him IN he Jumped from window. He
IN a hunchback, aud ~ Peterson, the
dead man, was similarly afflicted there
was warm friedship between them,
and they were seated ut the same table.
Bergstrom said he begged his com.
panion TO jump with him, but Peter.
son said he was frightened and started
back 10 reach the door. Homust have
been sutlocated, for when his body
was discovered, burned to a crip, his
head WAS toward the door and his face
covered by his bands.
Erickson one Of the proprietors,
fought his way through the flames TO
the door, and when no escaped was 10
badly burned that he begged some Of
the bystandors 10 shoot him, aud It was
with difficulty that no was restrained
from butting his head against tho fence.
Mrs. Sandsten, the moiher.in-law Of
Erickson, was badly burned about tho
feet and ankles, fnre, banda and urma