The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-26
BURNING WAS FATAL
MRS. JOHN RAMALLo SURVIVES
HER BABE BUT A FEW.
HOURS.
TWO LIVES SNUFFED OUT
ALMOST AS SUDDENLY AS THE
DRIPPING TAPERs ON JOYOUS
TREES.
ELECTRICIAN LOSES AN EYE.
Charles Ldntner Is Terribly Hurt at
the Hill Street Railway
Power House.

Both Mrs. John Ranallo and her two
year-old son, the victims Of the Christ
mas eve lamp explosion at their fam
lily home, 6O2 Grove street, died at the
city hospital yesterday. Each was hor-
ribly burned, and the babe succumbed
to his injuries at o'clock in the morn
ing, while the mother fingered in agony
until noon. Everything possible was
done to preserve the lives OF the suffer-
ers and to alleviate their pain, but the
terrible shock was too severe and
deaths coming was almost welcome.
The dead woman was thirty-eight years
Of age and leaves a husband and mar
ried daughter.
The double fatality is one Of par
ticular sadness, interrupting as it did
the Christmas festivities Of the little
family, which was suddenly sundered
in the midst Of holiday joy Italians
Of the poorer class, the father and
mother had prepared for the Christmas
season as extensively as their limited
means would permit and had invited
some Of their neighbors in to partici-
pate In the festivities. The children
were told the story Of the Christ child,
and the gifts which the parents had
deprived themselves to secure the hap
piness of the little ones were being
placed in tiny hands when the terri
bic accident occurred. An unfortunate
movement on the part Of one Of the
guests upset the lamp which was burn
ing on the table, and In moment
mother and babe were enveloped in
flames. Joy was turned into terror, and
mirth gave way to silent horror Mrs.
Ranallo had been sitting with the child
in her lap, and when the lamp ex-
ploded almost the instant 1t struck the
floor the flying oil saturated the cloth
ing of both. With a scream Of fear the
mother dropped the infant and rushed
into the street. Mr. Ranallo seized a
blanket with which he smothered the
flames which were leaping around his
young son and placing the uncon-
scious form on bed hurried to the
street, where the terrorized cries Of his
wife directed his footsteps to CULVER
ing form block away writhing in ag-
ony in the snow. Officer Moran had met
the woman and eXtinguished the flames
which the wind famed about her lower
extremities until they were burned ter
ribiy. She was carried back to the
humble home, which but q few mo-
ments before had been full of happi-
ness and rejoicing, but where now
gloom reigned. Everywhere throughout
the city eager hearts were beating in
expectancy for the morrow, but the
gladdest day Of all the year had moth
ing in store now for the Italian family
but sadness of the most depressing ma
ture.
When the victims Of the accident
reached the hospital, they were put
under the influence Of opiates to di-
minish their suffering, but from the
first it was plainly evident that there
was little or no hope for their recov-
cry. Mrs. Ranallo was conscious at
times, though suffering terrible pain,
and recognized her husband, who was
with her when their baby died in the
early morning hours. 1t was a mercy,
however, that she was given opiates
most Of the time, and, when death re-
lieved her agony, a sigh Of subdued
thanks escaped the poor woman's at
tendants. Yesterday afternoon the sis
ter-in-law of the dead woman visited
the hospital and reported the family
was too poor, she said, to bury it's
dead. and 1t was desired that the coun-
ty bear the expense Of the double flu
neral The remains will be taken over
to Mccarthy g. Donnelly, from whose
establishment the last act in tragedy
Of real life will take place, probably
tomorrow. John Ronallo, the father
and husband, Is employed in the yards
Of the G. J. Lewis Coal company at
the foot of Kittson street.