Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1897-09-17
BURNED TO DEATH.
Horrible Accident in Lynn-Two
Aged Sisters Die Together.

LYNN, Mass, Aug. l3-Two lives have
lust been lost in dwelling house fire at 30
Cedar street In this city. The victims were
Miss Harriet &. sheldon. 81 years old, and
her sister, Miss Matilda 4. Sheldon. Sc years
old. The latter was found breathing her
last by the person who discovered the fire.
and died before she could be removed from
the dwelling and Miss Harriet, who was
terribly burned about the face and body,
died a short time after being admitted to the
Lynn hospital. The sheldon sisters were well
known to the people OF Lynn. They were
familiar figures in the streets and were
always together. neither ever leaving their
homes for any length of time alone. They
dressed alike, walked alike, and
looked alike, and, In fact, so close was
:he resemblance that the impression
prevailed among those who saw them from
day to day that they were twins They were
devoted to each other. and lived without
other companiOuship in the IL story house
in which they met their death. They had
been left this house by their father when he
died, and. although relatives often on
dcavorcd to have them leave their lone
~ abode and enjoy comfort in their de.
clining years. they always declined
these invitations, preicrring the simple sur
roundings Of their old home, While both
women were we'll preserved for their years
and apparently good for many years to come,
time had left it, traces upon both. and to tn"
feehcncss due to their advanced age may
he traced the cause Of the fatalities which
occurred in this wise: In preparing break
fast, Miss Matilda, the elder. attempted
to MI an ordinary oil stove with
kerosene. She held a small oil can,
and had removed the stopper prepare
tory to pouring the oil into the stove
Before doing SO. however, she lighted both
wicks in the stove. ana rs she began to pour
the oil into it. the fluid took fire aud the
flames were communicated to her clothing.
She shricked with fright and pain. and
called to her sister, who was in another
part Of tho kitchen. The latter ran to
her assistance. and in trying TO smother
the flames her clothing also became IL
nited, and in a flash the flames swept
over her entire body Both women were
now envcloped in flames and were crying
franticaIly for help. Miss Matilda ran from
the kitchen into the parlor which aljoins
it, and AS she crossed the threshold she fell,
face downward, and she was found there a
few minutes later Ia diving condition.
Miss Harriet. in her frenzy. had COM
pl tely lost control of herself, and. suf-
fering great pain. she sank helpless into
chair where the flames continued their
deadly work, Her body was terribly burned.
and not particle of clothing was left upon
her. There was not Il portion OF her body
that was not shockingly burned, and even
the back OF the chair in which she fell was
partially consumed by the flames before help
arrived. Miss Matilda was picked up by
nrighbors who entered the house. and As sh"
was being lifted from the floor She
brcathed her last. Her body was not SO
badly burned as that of her sister,
and it is thought that she died Of sufoca-
tion rather than from her burns. Miss
Harriet while unconscious when found,
stll exhibited slight signs of life, and as
quickly as possible she was conveyed to the
Lynn hospital. whore everything possible
was done to save her life, but She, too
shortly breathed her last