New-York tribune., 1899-07-08
MRS. r. W. DTCKINS KILLED.
ALL WASHINGTON SHOCKED BY A DIS
TRESSING TRAGEDY.
THE WIFE OF A WELL KNOWN NAVAL Of
FICER MEETS DEATH FROM A GAso-
LENE EXPLOSION IN HER HOME.


Washington. July 7.-Oficial and unofficial
Washington alike were shocked TO-DAY by the
tragic death from an explosion Of gasolene at
her home just west OF the British embassy. OF
Mrs Marguerite Dickins one Of the best known
women in social. literary and charitable circles
in Washington. and wife Of Captain Francis w
Dickins. Of the Navy. who received the first Off
cial news Of the blowing up Of the battle ship
Maine in Havana Harbor The accident. which
occurred at about II o'clock, had many distress
ing features. and came fearful blow to Cap
tain Dckins. who was suddenly summoned home
from the Navy Department to,hnd his wife dead
and the upper part Of his house a wreck
A lighted metal pot used by plumbers who
were descending from the roof Of he h'use
where they repairing metal spout COM
ing in contact with the fumes OF gasolene which
Mrs Dckins using to clean some household
furnishings on the third floor. caused the
tragedy. Joseph Vaughn the plumber. was
verely but not dangerously burned in at
tempt to rescue Mrs Dckins whose death prob
ably was almost instantaneous
HOW THE EXPLOSION OCCURRED
The Dckins house is at No 1914 Nineteenth
st. in the fashionable part of the city. being
only a block from Dupont Circle A small room
at the head of the stairs On the third floor is
used as a storeroOm Mrs Dickins decided TO
pack away for the summer some rugs that were
there. and. to keep moths from them. saturated
them with gasoene this morning. This had col
lected in pools in the floor The plumber and his
assistant descended from the roof 81 the house
with a hot metal pot while Mrs. Dckins was
at work preparing the rugs for storage. The
fumes of the highly nhammable ~asolene filled
the room in which she was working and per
meated the whole upper floor. The plumber.
Joseph Vaughn detected the presence OF the
fumes but almost on the instant that he eau
toned his assistant there was terrific explo-
sion. wrecklng the upper part of the house.
Flames broke Immediately.
WO1u.D-BE RESCUERs BURNED.
An open gasolene can was beside Mrs. Dickins.
so that. the gas being thickest near her. she
received the worst shock OF the explosion. The
plumbers were knocked down by the shock
The helper. named Cook. quickly recovered and
rushed downstairs. closing the door behind him
The screams of Mrs. Dickins recalled him. and
he aided Vaughn in an effort to rescue the now
unconscious woman. They made several at
tempts to get her out of the room. but the
passageway was narrow and they were soon
forced to retreat Vaughn. before leaving the
helper returned with a fire extinguisher. whose
contents ne emptied over her but neither ex-
pedient was successful in saving her life. They
were both burned IN the attempt to save her.
The Fire Department soon the scene
and extinguished the flames. The hremen found
the burned and blackened body Of Mrs. Dickins
at the door Of the room in which she had been
ar work and removed Il TO the house OF DR..
william Dixon Of the Navy who lives next
door Life was extinct and the face 90 burned
that it was only by pieces Of her dress that
the servants were able 10 identify Mrs. Dickns.
The upper part Of the house found 10 have
been badly wrecked inside and out. Valuable
bric-a hrac furniture and curiosities collected
In all parts Of the world. making the house one
Of the most artistic and beautiful homes in the
city. were irreparably damaged. The money
loss is estimated at $1,000.
CAPT. DICKINs BROKEN DOWN BY SHOCK.
Captain Dlckins on duty as assistant
chief Of the Bureau Of Navigation when the ex-
plosion occurred. He was hastily summoned
home and did not know Of his wifes death until
he reached the house The shock prostrated
him. and tonight he is under a physicians care,
his nervous system being broken down by MS
terrible misfortune.
known resident Of New-York city. named Bates,
and was married 10 Captain Dckins in 1919 at
Newport. r l. She was a sister OF Charles F.
Bates the we'll known horsemsn She was an
enthusiastic member OF the Humane Society
and in the severe storms Of last winter ana
other wears she sought ont and helped with
food and clothing many homeless and hungry
little ones She was a we'll known contributor
70 MAGAZINES. and was the author Of some DOCKS
the best known Of which is Along the Shore
With Man-of-War." In society Mrs' DicAih9
was popular She was one Of the women VINO
o,ooronanied the Duke and Duchess Of Veragua
on their trip through the United states and TO
tho Worlds Fair at Chicago. She was member
~ the Daughters Of the American kevolutlon'
and that society will take special action regard
ing her death. -. 49, -,os+
In the recent war she was one OF me m9ss 9sI
ootiva members of local committee whlcn olu
good work in securing delicacies ana caring Ioi
the sick and wounded soldiers VINO Passsu
through Washington from Cuba for the fniiitafy
car,Ds m the South.