Evening star., 1897-05-27
NARROWLY ESCAPED DEATH
Mrs. Crabbs, While Helping Others, Injured
by a Fire Engine.
A Blaze Started by Gasoline II At.
tended by Disastrous Results-Mrs.
Simms Badly Burned.

Several painful and exciting incidents at
tended a fire in Northeast Washington
about o'clock this morning, and two wo-
men narrowly escaped death. One was
Mrs. Fannie Simms, in whose house, at
No I'LL d street, the fire started, who was
painfully but not seriously burned. The
other injured woman was Mrs. Mary
Crabbs, who was run over by No. 3 engine
and SO seriously injured that she may
lGse both legs.
The deadly gasoline stove caused the fire
and completely wrecked Mrs. Simms
home. Her husband, George Simms, is
employed on the lexington and Soldiess'
Home railroad. Harry Crabbs, husband of
the other woman, is also in the employ of
that company and working about the
stables.
The Trouble Came.
Mrs. Simms has used gasoline stove for
number of years, but not untfN this morn
Ing did she ever experience any trouble
She had lighted the gasoline beneath the
burner. and when she thought the burner
was hot enough to generate gas, she ap-
piled the match. About this time she also
filled the tank, and some of the fluid she
believes, was spilled in the flame. There
was flash, followed by an explosion, and
Mrs. Simms rushed from the kitchen AL
though her hair and eyebrows had been
slnged, and her right arm seriously burned
she did not leave her home until forced
away by the flames. While suffering in
tense pain she went to work to save her
household effects, and in this she received
scme little assistance from her neighbors
A crowd ofSexcited people stood in the
street meanwhile, many of them crying
Fire.! but it was several minutes before
any OF tnem had presence Of mind enough
10 turn III an alarm or send a message to
tne proper place. A message was finally
sent from Gibson's wood yard. and an
alarm was sounded from box 634. Several
engine companies ard truck A company
responded, and 1t was while No. 3 engine
was belng driven to a plug that two of its
wheels passed over Mrs. Crabbs' legs.
Mrs. Crabbs met with this painful and Sc
rlous accident because of her efforts to
save lie and property. She lives only a
snort distance froEn the house where the
nre started, and when she heard of the fire
she recollected that in the house adjoining
Mrs. Bruce, wife of an ex-car conductor
rms unfortunate woman had become a
mother only yesterday, and it was to save
her and her infant that Mrs. Crabbs left
her children at home and hurried over to
the scene.
Helping Others When Hurt.
In the removal of the sick woman to a
place of safety Mrs. Crabbs was of mate
rial assistance. and not knowing that some
other person had rescued the infant, she
returned to get it. Finding that both
mother and child were safe, she assisted
in the work of saving the household effects.
She had deposited something on the north
side OF the street, opposite the burning
house, and turned to make another trip
just then the heavy engine came along
over the extremely rough dirt road The
woman was running, and the sight of the
approaching engine only caused her addi-
tional fright. She stumbled on the dirt
road and fell headlong in front of the en-
gine
The woman appeared so suddenly in the
street that it was impossible for the driver
to prevent the accident He succeeded in
turning the horses so that they did not
strike the woman with their feet. and The
firemen left the engine as soon as they
could and went to the assistance of the
Injured woman. The neighbors had picked
her up, however and they CARRIED bar
home Ae-
Her arrival at her humble house across
the lot from the car stable was q sad
scene. There her four little children were
IN the room the youngest only three weeks
DID, while the oldest was probably but
SIX years of age. Then her husband came
over from the stable, and he was almost
frantic when he saw his wife lying on
the bed surrounded by her children and
the neighbors.
Several telephone messages were sent
for physician. but 1t was not until after
more than thirty minutes Of suffering that
ehe "oHidI was apie 10 get the desired pro-
fessional services
Saving the Property.
DR.. Barnes arrived and attended her.
While this was being done the firemen were
fighting the flames, and the work of saw
ing the household effects was continued
until three houses were vacant Consider
able china and glassware was destroyed
1t was reported that Mrs. Simms had left
her pccketbook, containing $780, in the
house, and this false rumor only increased
the excitement. The pocket book, which
really contained much smaller amount,
was saved, although the greater part of the
household effects were burned.
Mrs Sin ms was very much worried over
the supposed loss of her pug dog, but later
the canine was found where 1t had taken
refuge In a neighbor's house.
The house in which the fire started was
badly wrecked. the rear building being en-
tirely destroyed. The loss is estimated at
a hant