The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-10-31
FATAL GASOLINE EXPLOSION
a Sad Bereavement I'M Bishop
WhipPle's Family.
Fortesoue WhipPle's Vito Burned to
Others IDjured, Two of
whom Will Probably Die-hsiss Stone,
"ne OF Tho'e Severely Injured, was to
nave Boon Married soon-she was
Fearfniiy Burned About tho Head and
Face.

accident occurred here at noon to-Sxv
caused by the explosion OF gasoline
stove, resulting in che burning to death
OF Mrs. Fortescue Whissle, wife of For,
tescue White, member OF the firm OF
Dave & White, Of this city. and daueh-
ter'in-law OF Bishop Whitsle, of the
diocese OF Virginia, the probably fata,
burning of the youngest child of Mrs.
Whlttle, and the serious, IL not fatal.
burning OF Miss Lucy Stone, deughte.
Oh II s. Stone. A negro woman servant
was also injured. sad feature of the
affair Is the fact that Miss Stone. who ia
fearlully burned about the head, face
ana hands, was shortly to be married.
Inc ire caused By the explosion ignited
the furniture in the house, but was soon
eAuhgutsned. The victims are very
Fortescue Whittie, husband Of Mo
Whittle, left for Richmond this morn
ing ABOUT an hour and q half before The
accident occurred and has been tele-
graphed for.
FROM later details it appears that a
colored man, who la employed by Mr..
Whittle, had just brought TO the house
gallon of gasoline. Mrs. White had
some OF the fluid in bowl on a table
In the sitting room near the crate, with
Wnlch she was cleaning table cloth.
In the room at the time with Mrs. Whit
Tie was her young baby. Miss Lucy
and the oolored cook.
While Mrs. Whittle was engaged in
cleaning the table cloth with the gaso-
ilne, the fluid became ignited by the
neas from the fire in the open CRATE and
IN an instant there was an explosion.
The Oil flew all over Mrs. Whittle, burn.
ing her so badly that she died almost
instantly. Her body was burned to a
Crisp Miss Stone, who had entered the
mousse but few moments before the
casua ty occurred, endeavored to save
Mrs Whittle's infant. and was terribly
burned about the face, hands and arms.
Her hair was almost entirely burned off
Inc oaoy was very seriously burned but
hopes are entertained for its recovery.
burned
Messengers were at once sent for
physicians and Ora. VIM. Shiopen. II.
q. Leigh. Sr.. ii G Leigh, Jr., John
Herbert Claiborne. Pugh S,ockdel and
Wtlltsm Dunn were soon on hand, doing
al In their power to relieve the suffer-
Ing ones at the time OF the uniortu-
nate occurrence Mr.. Wbittle was
-, istcu hoHu lie was at once
notified by wire. On receipt of the
news special ,rain, consisting OF an
engine and coach, was placed st Mr..
Whittle's disposal by the railway
oMcials and fast time made to this city.
The news was broken to him on his
arrival here. Tho bereaved husband
bore up nobly under the blow, and
asked to bs allowed to see the remains.
Nind friends, however, advised him not
10 subject himself to this ordeal snd
after remaining few moments in his
now deaolate home he was taken 10 the
residence OF Alexander Hamilton
Mrs. Whittle before her marriage was
iss Susan M. Plummer, daughter tf
IL. L. Plummer, OF this city. Bastdes
her husband, she leaves three small
Ghl1oren. MISS Stone is the dsughter of
K. L. Stone, OF this CITY. and one OF the
most popular young ladies in Peters,
burg.