The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-10-31
A SHOCKING ACCIDENT
Mrs. WhitiIe, Of Petersburg, Loses Her
Life Through the Explosion of Gasoline.
HER BABY ALSO SERIOUSLY BURNED
Miss Stones Young lady visitor, aud
Two Servant Girls Severely nurn-
ed by Ii BURNING Ifquid-A EEcnrt
Rcnding Spectacle to the Grief
STRICKEN Husband md Father.

Petersburg, Va, Oct. 30.-(Special.)-
About a quarter to II O'clock to-day an
alarm of fire was turned in and the
blaze proved TO be in the sitting-room
of the residence of MI. Fortescue Whit
Tie, on the corner OF Marshall and
accident had occurred. It appears that
u colored man who is employed by Mr..
Whittle, had just brought to the house
Il gallon of gasoline. Mrs. Whittle had
some OF the fluid in a bowl on a table
near the crate. with which she was
cleaning n table cloth. In the room at
the time with Mrs. Whittle was her
young baby about twelve months of
age; Miss Lucy Stone. Anna Claiborne,
colored, who was employed by Mrs. Whit
tie as nurse and the cook. While Mrs.
Whittle was engaged cleaning the
table cloth with the gasoline the fumes
from the fluid became ignited from the
neat from the fire and i'm an instant
there was an explosion. The oil flew
all over Mrs. Whittle and she was
burned TO death. Her death is believed
10 nave been almOst instantaneous. Her
nodS was burned to Il crisp. Miss
stone, who had ben In the house but q
rev moments before the terrible casual
" occurred, in her efforts to saw Mrs.
W mites infant. was terribly burned
about the face, hands and arms. Her
haii was also burned. The baby was
tihN VII Tic Ilct1u, Out III Is
not thought that it's injuries are neccs-
sarllE fatal. Its burns are about the
mead, legs and face. The colorcd nurse
was terribly burned on the face. neck
hnndS and arms, up to both elbows,
ne COOK was also very seriously burn
eu about the face, hands and body.
Inc news of the sad affair soon no.
came known and hundreds Of people
iockcu TO the scene. Miss Stone AMI
MIS- Mhittles body were taken into
INC residence of Mr.. Carter r.. BIshon
next door. while the two colorrd wo,nnr
were carried into Mr.. whites ki,chnn
Messengers We're at once sent TO, nhv.
Sicians and Drs. William Shcpper. III.
"; Leigh, Sr., II. &. Leigh. Jr.. John
Claiborne, Hugh Stockdcll and William
,'Iunh Norc soon on hand doing all in
lhelr power to relieve the suffering oncs
after Miss Stones burns mad Lu,an
dressed she was sent home I'm n hncl;
me physician who dressed her wounds
says he does not think that she will he
r,iuch %ulsiiSured. At the time Of the
unfortunate occurrence Mr.. White
was away from home. having Icf, Cor
itlchmond this morning. He was nj
once notified by wire of the tragic dcoth
oi ms VIE and the burning of his chilli
On receipt OF the sad news Mr.. Whittlc
came home on n special train. consist
inS or a locomotive and one coach mr.
rlNlhS here at LA p. m. Mrs. WhittIo
before marriage was Miss Susan Al.
i hummer, daughter of Mr.. II. l.. Plum
insf, OF inns city. She leaves three chill
uFeh. Ihcy are Robert L., aged about
) years: Frank NJ, aged 6 years. and
Emily r., aged ] year. Tho deceased
was a most loveablc lady and the an.
mo~uncethent OF her death will be read
Mlln me p~roloundest regret. Mir. Whit
lie Is n son of Bishop T.. NJ. White. and
a member OF the firm OF Dercic & Whit
tie. of this city.
MISS stone was to have been mar
ricd on the 20th of next n1ontb 70 A..
IuWln rain, of Norfolk. ana to-day
Sne was preparing to send OUT, invita-
tons to the wedding. MIR. Palm was
lrGlnptiy notified by wire of the ter
riDle accident which had berallen his
aiiiahced bride. and he arrived here
inns evening on the cannon ball train
from Norfolk. Miss Stone was resting
easy AT a late hour tonight, but her at
ne cannot tell the full extent OF her
injuries before morning. "