The record-union., 1898-08-25
MRS. POWELL'S AWFUL FATE
BURNED TO DEATH IN SAN
FRANCISCO.
Sad End OF a Former Resident of
This City, Sister OF Mrs.
Bruce B. Lee.

A brief San Francisco dispatch ap-
peared in the Record Union yester-
day morning stating that Mrs. Frank
Powell, residing at 433 Jessie street, il
that city, died on the preceding even
Ing from the effects of injuries re-
ceived by the explosion of lamp
A number of Sacramentans re-
marked that the name was that of a
former resident of this city, but as the
victims residence was in a quarter
inhabited only by the poorest families
the possibility of its being their old
Sacramento friend was not entertained
for a moment
Sad to say, however, it was Mrs.
Frank Powell, whose comfortable and
picturesque home used to be at
Thirteenth and II streets-the wife of
the old-time livery stable proprietor.
The Cali thus tells the pitiful story
Of her death:
Alone and helpless, Mrs. Powell,
aged 80 years was burned to death
last evening in her room at 433 Jessie
street. The unfortunate woman started
to light coal oil lamp, when in some
manner the fluid became ignited set
ting fire to her dress.
unable to eXtinguish the flames,
Mrs Powell ran screaming through the
hallway, frantically calling for help.
The landlady endeavored to assist her,
but realizing her helplessness she ran
to an open window and Justify shouted
for the police. A citizen who vas
passing at once entered the house, ana
seeing Mrs. Powell enveloped in flames
he seized a blanket and wrapped it
around her.
After the flames We're eXtingulshed
the unfortunate woman became un-
conscious, and realizing that she was
fatally burned the landlady of the
house had her removed the Receiving
Hospital Despite the efforts of Police
Surgeon We'll and his assistants the
unfortunate woman breathed her last
a short time afterward, without hay
ing regained consciousness.
An examination of her body dis
closed the fact that not a spot es-
capped the deadly flames. Her face
was burned to an unrecognizable mass,
and her limbs were charred and black
ened. Shortly after death ended her
suffering her body was taken in charge
of by the Coroner
1T is supposed that the unfortunate
woman had filled the coal oil lamp
and was about to light it, when the
flame from the match set fire to some
oil which had been accidentally poured
on the base of the lamp. In trying TO
extinguish the flames her dress caught
fire and with a wild shrek she ran
screaming through the hallway.
Mr. and Mrs Powell, it was learned
yesterday by a Record Union" re-
porter. have lately been living in pow
erty in San Francisco. When they re-
sided in Sacramento Mr.. Powell was
in good circumstances, but lost heavily
in speculations and removed to San
Francisco about twenty years ago. For
awhile he conducted a livery stable on
Howard street, but failed, and after
ward received the appointment OF Cap
tain of the Guard at the Folsom Prison,
which position he held for several
years.
Subsequently Mr. Powell secured a
subordinate place in the Custom-h house
but the salary was barely a living one,
and even that he lost some time ago
OF late he and his wife have been de-
pending chiefly on the generosity OF
old friends.
Mrs Powell was sister of Mrs.
Bruce b Lee of this city, and when
she lived here she was prominent IN
society circles