Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-01-14
BELLOWS FALLS NEWS.
Mrs. Pray's Shocking Death.

Her Clothing Caught Fire aud She Fell
Do,vn a Flight OF stairs---Mrs. J. G.
Day seriously Burned In Her Heroic
Endenvors to save Mrs. Pray.
A sad and startling accident occurred
Tuesday morning about half past six at
the residence Of J. G. Day on School street,
whereby Mrs. Charlotte M. Pray, the
mother of hIr. Days first wife, lost her
life. and Mrs. Day was painfully injured
by burning.
Mr. Day returned from Boston at II
O'Clock the preceding evening and was
sleepinp heavily when awakened by ms
little daughter Elizabeth shouting "Grand-
ma is burning" The three rooms occu-
pied by the family were on the second
floor each opening into the hallway IN
which were the stairs Mrs. Day, VINO
awoke a moment earlier than her husband,
saw Mrs. Pray rush into the hall envelop-
ed i'm flames. She started toward her TO
render assistance, and had almost reached
her at the head of the stairway when Mrs
PRAY fell heavily down the long flight oil
stairs. Mrs Day reached her almost as
quickly as she landed at the foot OF the
stairs. The flames from Mrs. fray 5
clothing quickly ignited curtains and
draperies, and the suffering woman was III
the midst of the flames. Mrs. Day, with
great presence of mind, used rugs and bed
clothing thrown down by Mr. Day to
another the flames on Mrs. Pray. Mean
while Mr.. Day in coming from his room
had seen through the open door to MIS-
Prav's room that the books and papers on
her table were afire and turned his at
tention there first. The flames at both
points were du ckly subdued, but not I'M
til Mrs. Pray had been frightfully burned,
which. together with serious injuries from
her fall, caused her death before noon.
She did not regain consciousness and could
not explain how the accident occurred
From a tin safety lamp burning upon her
table, with chimney turned back by the
hinge, and all the contents OF the taole
burning. it is probable that Mrs. Pray in
dressing set her clothing on fire and IN a
bewildered way ran to the head OF the
stairs, where, being overcome by the flames
she fell down the stairs before Mrs Day
could reach her
Mrs. DAYS injuries are OF painfu
nature, but not considered dangerous
Her hands, arms, one foot and her race
were burned and she has suffered severely
now being confined TO her bed. her hgh'
for the life OF Mrs. Pray was houle oile
and might easily have cost her owr
before her husband could come to her as
sistance. Mrs. Pray was Il years Old las
month She was born in SomersWorLh
N. H., where she has many relatives living
and where the body was taken "Wednesday
for interment. She had been memoe
of Mr.. Days family for over 20 years
both at K-ene and during all his residence
here. In the varied Affections passed
through by the family of Mr.. Day she ha'
proven herself a tower of strength, ant
the vacancy in that home will be long felt
She became a member of the First Con
gregational church here in 1888, uniting
with it by letter from one of the churche
at Keene. The family have been the re
cipients of many expressions of thought
full regard from their many friends here II
their trouble and affection.