Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-08-25
Death IN THB FLAMES
MRS. G. ". KELLEY DIED OF
HER INJURIES.
Fearful Experience With Gasoline
in Which q Good Woman Lost Her
Lifs-Tsrrible Suffering for Four
Hours.

SAAe AVAAASAV S~AVAAn6 AVA AVoA
Hours.
The injury Of Mrs. George W. Kel.
ley, wife Of the superintendent Of the
poor farm, from burning gasoline,
resulted in death at s o'clock Monday
evening. She suffered terribly from
the effects Of her burns from the time
Of the accident, about $3.50 p M, un-
til the end came. She was conscious
to the last and realized that she could
not be saved, but met the end
bravely.
STORY OF THE ACCIDENT.
The terrible accident which ended
fatally occurred in the kitchen of the
county farm dwelling four miles
northeast Of the city. The kitchen
and dining room are in the basement.
Mrs. Kelley was alone in the former,
her husbands brother John Kelley
and bis wife, with several Of the poor
farm inmates, were peeling peaches'in
the latter. A gasoline stove, pur.
chased only few weeks ago, was be-
ing used and the oil ran low. Mrs.
Kelley turned off both burners, as
she supposed, but one remained
Pickering while she went to coal
room and brought out the 5.gallon
can Of gasoline. This she placed on
the steel range, then took of the re.
movable tank Of the gasoline stove
and set it on the lower portion Of the
stove. As the 5-gallon can was full,
to save lifting it she drew off some
gasoline in pan. This she started
to pour into the tank on the gasoline
stove when some spilled and running
to the Pickering flame in the burner
ignited.
WRAPPED IN FLAMES.
In an instant the pan Of gasoline
caught and as she started back II flew
over her dress and she was wrapped
in flames. She ran screaming to the
dining room. Those there say they
could see only ball Of flame roaring
as 1t burned her clothing. For mo-
ment all was confusion. Mrs. John
Kelley ran upstairs, Mr.. Kelley went
outside for blanket, Others tried to
extinguish the flame. One man com.
menccd cutting off her clothing and
between bis efforts and the destruc-
tion OF the flames she was nearly nude
when Mr.. Kelley returned with the
blanket which he threw around her.
DR.. Harry Downer spread lard over
her skin and wrapped her up while
a boy was sent for physician. The
flames in the kitchen were extin.
guished by the inmates without much
damage being done. Two Of the in
mates were slightly burned on hands
and feet fighting the flames.
COULD NOT SAVE HER.
Dr. E. E. Hazlett reached the suf.
fering woman as soon as possible but |
found her in a fearfully burned condi-
tion oil over with the exception Of the
crown Of her head and soles Of her |
feet. She had inhaled the flames to |
such an extent that it was impossible
to save her and she died four hours
later. She blamed only herself and
repeatedly said it was her own fault
that the accident occurred. Her hus-
band was five miles away at a neigh.
boring farm at the time Of the acci-
dent. The terrible event is widely
deplored and the deepest sympathy
and sorrow is felt for the family.
FUNERAL ON WEDNESDAY.
Mrs. Sarah j. Kelley was aged Al
years and leaves beside the sorrowing
husband three children to mourn her
decease. She had large number Of
friends in the county and was es-
teemed by all. Funeral services
Wednesday at 9 a. m. at the honse,
at 10 at the Detroit church.
Got Only Five Dollars.