The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-10-25
MRS. vANDUsEN's AWFUL FATE.
A Scene to Make the stOutest Heart
MeIt-UnabIe to Save Her.


A Scene to Make the stoutest Heart
Melt-UnabIe to Save Her.
The most awful experience Of this ter
rible affair was that of Mrs. c. G. Van
dusen of Sproutbrook, N. Y, who was
burned to death with hands free and In
full possession of her senses. in spite of
the utmost endeavors of the party OF
rescuers. Soon after the wreck occurred
Mr.. Vandusen was removed from be-
meath a pile of debris and taken to the
hospital, where he died in short time.
He was conscious to the last, left his
business affairs in the hands OF
the Rev. George Culp of this city.
friend. and died without knowing that for
his wife had been reserved the most aw-
full fate of all
Mrs. vandusen was pinned in the tel
escoped cars and at first had no doubt
of her escape, as she locked out Of the
window and awaited her rescuers. The
alarm of fire was suddenly given.
Hurry up, please hurry up" she said,
as the fear crossed >iher mind that per-
haps she was possibly in danger of
burning. A minute later, while strong
men were straining to extrtcate her, the
possibility became probability and the
flames crept rapidly toward the impris-
oned woman.
"You shan't burn we'll get you out"
cried the men heroically as they wrestled
There was a luli of speech for five min
utes. The rescuers had become giants
in strength and madfnen in desperation,
and they struggled wildly with the tan
gled mass of wood and iron. The woman
was silent and gaZed imploringly and in
quiringly into the faces of the firemen.
MY God, oh, my Cod" suddenly burst
from the lips of one of the heroic work
ers, and in that deSpairing heart cry
the helpless woman read her death war
f1fF
then her woman's weakness gave way
to a martyrs strength.
II can die, oh, yes, I can die If I must, :"
she said soothingly to the strong men
who were weeping in their impotent
strength. Again they struggled breath
lessly to rescue. but the flames were en-
circling the party and the blaze claimed
the victim that the crash had spared.
'I am a Christian" she said resigned
ly, and a moment later her voice was
raised in prayer. The flames now COM
| pletely encircled the helpless victim and
| the firemen were driven away. AS the
! blaze caught her arms and as she fought
| to keep the flames from her face she
| told her name and address and left mes
sages of love to her husband and fam
! lily. The closing minute was pathetic
struggle against the inevitable, but II
was the flesh that fought and not the
| spirit The white face of the woman
gazed heavenward and her lips moved
IN prayer. Even the IuTy OF tIe ndileS
| that wreathed her limbs and blistered
and curled the whole flesh of her arms
| were powerless/ to provoke a scream.
/ Suddenly there was a swaying and surg
| ing Of burning timbers above and around
her. A wild groan burst simultaneously
| from the lips of the spectators and
strong men wept. Through their tears
they saw the flames sweep around the
| face of the nlartyred woman and her
hair burned wildly for moment The
head dropped to one side as the victim
inhaled the flames, the praying lips were
| stilled and the soul of Mrs. Vanduser
had passed beyond the fury of the ele'
ments Of earth.
An hour later the husband. for whom
she had left loving message, Joined
her In the world TO come.