The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-12-14
BURNS MAY BIZ FATAL
EDWARD RANDALL THE VICTIM
OF A MIDNIGHT FIRE ON
PORTLAND AVENUE
KEROSENE LAMP EXPLODED
Bed in Which He sIept-His
Son Was Badly Burned About the
Hands and Feet In Trying to
Save Him-Father's Hurts Are
of a Dangerous Nature.

Edward Randall, living with his son,
Henry E. Randall, at $50 Portland ave-
lamp explosion shortly before 1 o'clock
this morning, while the son was also
severely burned In attempting to res
cue his father. The elder Mr.. Randall
was frightfully burned about the head,
face and chest, while the skin on his
hands was parched. His hair was
burned off and it is feared he may
have inhaled some Of the fame. He
is sixty-four years of age and the ply
sicians attending him fear that he will
not survive the burns and shock.
Henry E. Randall, the son, was pain
fully burned about the hands and feet,
but his injuries are not considered
dangerous.
The accident happened in the room
Of the father, in the back part Of the
house, on the second floor. The elder
Mr. Randall sleeps alone and the lamp
stood on a table near his bed. The first
intimation of danger to anyone in the
house was a sudden explosion, which
also aroused several Of the neighbors.
Edward Randall was aroused by the
sound, and directed by the light Of the
flames, rushed to his fathers room.
The room was ablaZe and filed with
smoke. Lying unconscious by the
window at the far side Of the room
the son could distinguish the body of
his father. Flames burned all about
the old man, but the son, undeterred
by danger to himself, rushed into the
room, walking upon the burning floor
in his bare feet and finally with great
difficulty succeeded In half dragging
half carrying his father into the hall
way.
At first glance 1T was seen that the
elder Mr.. Randall was dangerously
burned Rescued from the suffocation
Of the burning room he slowly regained
consciousness. His suffering was in
tense. His face was burned, while the
skin on his hands curled up in crisps.
His head was badly burned, all of the
hair being gone and about the chest
and upper part of his body he was also
badly burned. The old man was car
ried down stairs, where DR.. Johnson,
who lives near by, was soon endeavor-
ing to relieve his suffering. DR.. Davis
was also summoned and gave his at
tention to the son. In walking across
the burning floor the younger Mr.. Ran
dali had badly burned his feet, and
while tearing the burning night dress
from his fathers body his hands were
also burned, but the physicians say hts
injuries are not serious, though ex-
tremely painful.
While the physicians were dressing
the old mans burns he managed IN
thing of the accident He said he had
been asleep some time, he did not know
how long, when he was awakened by
the explosion of the lamp. The ex-
plosion scattered burning oil all over
the room and almost as soon as he
opened his eyes, Mr.. Randall said, the
apartment was ablaze. Bewildered and
frightened the old gentleman got out
Of the bed, which had also caught fire
and was burning, and tried to extin-
guish the blaze about the table where
the lamp had stood. Finally, almost
| overcome. with his night robe af1re, Mr..
| Randall said he tried to escape from
| the room, but in his excitement could
not find the door. He staggered to the
| window, where he broke out the glass
and tried to jump out. Before he could
do SO he became unconscious and fell to
the floor The injured man was TAX
en- to ST. Joseph's hospital.
The fire department was called to
| extinguish the blaze in the room. The
| damage to the house was small.
Henry E. Randall is an editor in the
employ Of the West Publishing COM
| pany.