The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-29
BRAVE LITTLE GIRL.
Three-Year-o Minnie Bales Tries to
Save Her Sisters Life.

Three Year-Old Minnie Bales Tries to
Save Her Sisters Life.
Bright and pretty two-year-old Lizzie
Bales, who ut noon yesterday was as
playful and strong as a mothers heart
could wish, Is now lying at the point OF
death at the City Hospital and the tender
flesh has sloughed from several places on
her little body, the result of most frightful
burns. Saturday afternoon about
o'clock Lizzie and her little sister, Minnie,
3 years old, were in the Kitchen, en-
joying their customary -dmp, after their
MONDAY meal. Little Lizzie presently
found newspaper, and, tearing it into
bits, she thrust the pieces through the
crate of the kitchen stove and watched
them burn. One piece fell to the floor,
and, touching her calico dress, ignited it.
In an instant she was wrapped in flames.
Her brave little sister mprehended the
terrible situation on the instant. Without
a moments hesitation she began the task
of beating out the flames, unmindful of the
danger which she herself was running, and
paying no heed to the intense pain result
ing TO her own small and tender hands
from the contact with the blaze, she stuck
pluckily TO her task until she had eXtin-
guished the flames.
When the frightened mother came to
the rescue of her children there was the
older daughter down on the floor putting
out the flames with a courage that would
do honor TO the strongest OF men. II was
remarkable instance of a child's bravery,
and it is no fault OF Minnie's that the con-
dition of her sister is so serious.
When the flames began to ascend the
light dress of the unfortunate child, and
a hen in fanf hQr n
and tender flesh, her screams of anguish
were piteous in the extreme and her little
face was distorted with pain. Before her
sister could beat out the fire Lizzie's body
was mass OF burns, and the flesh from
her hands and legs all raw and blistered.
LiZZie's agonized cries of pain and Min
MES frantic cries for help reached the
mother, who had stepped out of the house
for d few moments. Rushing in and see
ing what had occurred she grasped her
babe in her arms and ran to the North End
Dispensary, where DR.. S. A. Peake, the
physician in charge, did all that was pos
sible to ease the pains of the sufferer.
He found that she was solid mass of
burns from head to foot. The flesh was
literally burned off her hands and limbs.
Her entire body was in frightful condi-
ton, as was her head and face. Her hair
was entirely burned off. Her sufferings
were awful and the doctors experienced
great difficulty in temporarily bandagng
the child because of her violent struggles.
All that could be done to ease her was
accom- plished, and Lizzie was removed to
the City Hospital, where her death is
hourly expected.
DR.. Peake, who is accustomed to seeing
such sights, says he never saw a worse
burn. Lizzie is the youngest child of
Mr.. and Mrs. Peter Bales. who live
at S23 Destrehan street. Mr.. Bales is
a molder employed at the stove foun-
dry of Bridge & Beach, at sol South Main
street. The information of the deplorable
affair was telephoned to him and he
fastened home to render all the assistance
possible.---St. Louis Post-Dispatch.