Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-05-28
TERRIBLE DEATH.
PasticuIars OF the Horrible Accident
which Occurred in the Household
OF Prof Loomis, of Chicago.

The following sceountofthe accident which
recently befell the family Of Prof Loomis Of
Chicago, is taken from the Daily Tribune OF
that city. Prof. Loomis and wife were FORM
er residents Of Napoleon, the Prof. being 81
perinteDdent Of our schools. Friends here
extend sympathy in their sad bereavement:
Miss Jennie Upper, bright and lovable
girl. Is years old. was burned beyond recog-
milton by an explosion of gasoline Mt the home
Of her uncle, Prof. J. II. LOomis, No. 81 Laf-
lin street, shortly before o'clock last even
ing. Pros. Loomis and his wife were both
badly burned and narrowly escaped the fate
OF their niece in their efforts TO save her life.
The family had been house cleaning, and
Prof. Doomis, who is principal at the Wells
School, had returned home from the duties of
the day, and his niece, who was one of the
graduating class in the Marquette School, had
come home q short time before. Mrs. Loomis
was resting on a sofa in the parlor while her
husband was arranging the furniture. Jennie,
to relieve her aunt, had gone to the kitchen to
prepare dinner.
The professor was moving book case
across the parlor when there came a terrific
explosion. He was thrown to the floor, the
bookcase was blown across his body and fell
with crash on his wife. Thedoors and win
room was thrown into the widest confusion
As the professor extricated himself from the
confused heap he heard his niece screaming
in the hallway leading to the kitchen. In a
moment he rescued his wife, who fortunately
had not been hurt, and then ran to see what
was the matter with his niece. Fastening
through the dining room to the door into the
hallway he attempted to open it, but there
was something against il on the other side
and - r,ouIA onlu r..
could see flames rolling from the bath room
into the hall and his niece lying on the floor. '
Without losing a moments time he ran
through the outside hall into the kitchen and
then into the hallway where the girl lay, As
he passed through the kitchen he caught up
shawl and an overcoat which lay on a chair.
Not minding the scorching flames ne threw
the coat and shawl over the girl and raised
her to her feet This enabled his wife to open
the door into the dining-room.
As soon as the door was open, the Door girl,
mad with pain and fright, broke from his
grasp and ran across the room. She stumbled
over something and fell, and Mrs. Loomis
picked up the overcoat and attempted to
smother the flames. Her hands were badly
scorched and the skirts of her dress caught
fire.
SAVING HIS WIFE.
Prof Loomis, seeing his wife's danger,
grasped her in his arms and hurried with her
to the outside hall and with table-coyer
smothered the fire which was burning her
skirts. Then leaving her he ran back to his
niece. The room was sitting with smoke and
a thin blue flame rolled up from the bath
room to the ceiling. As he entered the din
ing room he saw his niece rise from the floor,
her skirts all ablaze to her waist and her hair
burning. Before he could reach her she sank
to the floor again, writhing in agony.
L. okA Al l. Aol-z 4
but the fire was more than he could endure,
1t burned his face and scorched his hair. He
became blind for the time. Leaving his niece
he groped his way to the door and was assisted
to the street by neighbors.
1t was all over in less than five minutes.
Before any aid arrived the fire in the fiat was
SO hot that no one could enter it, and the Fire
Department had arrived. The lifeless body
of the girl was taken to the morgue on Mil
waukee avenue and Prof. and Mrs. Loomis
were taken to the home of Mrs. 3. A. Melvin,
No. 513 Adams street.
DR.. R. N. Foster dressed the wounds of
Prof. and Mrs. Loomis. The professor com
planned of severe pain in his chest and it
was feared he had inhaled the flame. His
throat was considerably scorched The blind
ness which came over him while he was try-
ing to save his niece was only temporary and
the doctor did not think it would prove seri-
Gus. Mrs. Loomis had all the skin burned
of her hands, but was not otherwise ipiured.
How the explosion was caused is not known.
Mrs. Loomis said that can of gasoline had
been brought in by the grocer half an hour
before the accident and put in the bathroom,
There was no fire in the bath room, which |
had west window that was wide open. Mr., |
Loomis said he had intended to have it put in |
The cellar, but was busy at the time and for |
got it,
They occupied the top fat IN the building. |
It was completely wrecked and the contents |
'uined. The loss will be $1,500.
Jennie Tupper was the daughter of Mr.. and |
Mrs. M. @. Upper, of Grand Blanc, Mich.
About year ago she came to Chicago to
make her home with her uncle that she might
ave the advantages of the public schools.
Prof. Loomis lost a daughter about her ACE
ew years ago and he and his wife were as de-
oted to Jennie as if she had been their own
hid.