The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-09-14
POURED Oil ON FIRE
CARELESS USE OF KEROSENE RE
SUITS In HORRIBLE INJURY
TO THREE.
DEATH ENDS THE SUFFERING
OF ONE OF THE VICTIMS, BUT THE
OTHERS HAVE A CHANCE FOR
RECOVERY.
BLOODY RESULTS OF A BRAwL.
George DemkO Seriously SIashed
With a Pocket Knife by
DEATH ENDS THE SUFFERING
BLOODY RESULTS OF A BRAwL.
George DemkO Seriously Slashed
With a Pocket Knife by
Companion.

A shocking accident of a three-fold
nature from flames, the result of an
explosion of kerosene oil, which will
probably result in death, occurred
yesterday noon at the residence of H.
B. Trask, 2S09 Chicago avenue. 1t was
caused by an attempt to secure quick
results from a wood fire by adding a
quantity of kerosene. The flames en-
tered the can containing the latter
and exploded it, inflicting probably
fatal injuries to Mrs. Sarah Trask, 65
years of age, and causing painful
burns to her son, H. B. Trask. In her
efforts to extinguish the burning
clothing of her mother-in-law, Mrs. H.
b. Trask was seriously burned about
the arms and head. Immediate med
ical assistance was given the mother,
but there is but slight hope for her re-
covery.
The unfortunate occurrence took
place amid preparations for the noon
day meal At 1890 o'clock Mr.. Trask
entered the kitchen to stir up the fire
In the cooking stove DESTROYS Of
speedy results, he procured the can of
kerosene oil and removing one of the
stove covers poured the contents of the
can into the fire. His aged mother
stood by his side watching his action
He was also accompanied to the kitch-
en- by his six-year-old boy, who sought
to assist his father in his endeavors
When the latter secured the oil can
the attention of the lad was Temporal
rily attracted elsewhere by a trif1fng
incident, and to that he owes his es-
cape from a horrible DEATH
Immediately on the application of
the oil to the flames the combustiblc
fluid was seized with aVidity and
thin line Of fire followed the stream
with lightning rapidity through the
spout into the can. Before the two
watching the fire could act and even
sooner than they realized their dan
ger, an explosion followed The burn
ing oil alighted on Mr.. TraSk's hands.
arms and face, inflicting painful burns.
The excruciating pain and suffocat-
ing fumes temporarily blinded the man
and he was unable to assist or see his
mother. With her matters were worse
The flying flames caught her clothing
and in a moment she was enveloped
in flames.
The sound of the explosion and the
screams of the aged sufferer attracted
Mrs. H. B. Trask from an inner room.
Seeing the condition Of her mother-in-
law, she seized blanket and wrapped
it around the burning woman. In the
excitement she received serious burns
about the arms and hands. The blan-
ket did not at once extinguish the
burning clothing, and in the intensity
of her suffering the woman rushed to
the threshold of the house, thinking to
find relief in the cooler air without.
There she fell exhausted and lay until
assisted by neighbors attracted by the
noise.
The explosion of the can served also
to fire the wooden finishings in the
kitchen, and, thinking the house was
about to go up in smoke, Mrs. Trask
caught hold of her son and threw him
through the window to the street. He
escaped uninjured. An alarm was
turned in for the fire department, and
the flre was put out with slight dam
age. In the meantime Mrs. Sarah
Irask was taken across the street to
the residence of a neighbor and there
attended by doctors. Every effort was
bent to assuage her suffering, but from
the first her life was despaired Of
She was horribly burned about the
chest, arms and lower limbs In many
places her skin was burned to a crisp
and respiration was impossible The
injuries of the other sufferers were
given attention and no serious results
are anticipated.
AT midnight, DR.. Benjamin, the at
tending physician, stated the condition
OF MRS. Trask was precariouS He ex-
pressed doubt that she would live ont
the night She was removed to the
home of her son. The latter was SUBJ
sequently found to be more seriously
burned than was first thought A por-
ton of the burning fluid entered his
eyes and that may give rise to serious
trouble. His face was swollen badly
and serious burns were about his arms
and head.