The Topeka state journal., 1899-10-25
Lost Her Own Life In
Doing So.
EXPLOSION OF ALAMP
Sets Fire to Draperies and Rugs
In ROOms
Removes Her Children and Re-
turns to Fight Fire.
Smothers Flames In Her Cloth.
ing In Bath Tub.

Unequalled presence of mind saved
Mrs. George w. Whitcomb, wife of the
well known Topeka attorney, and her
two small children from death by fire
in their new home just west of the city
on West Sixth avenue last night.
With her clothing in flames from the
explosion of a kerosene lamp, Mrs.
Whitcomb hurried her children from
the room, stamped out the flames con-
suming the carpet and rugs on the
floor, and after an Intellectual attempt
to save herself by wrapping a heavy
rug about her body, ran to the bath
room and throwing herself in the bath
tub turned on the water in full force.
Mrs. Whitcomb was horribly burned
about the limbs and body, and has been
in constant pain since the time OF the
accident. The attending physician be-
ueves, however, that she will recover.
The explosion occurred about 8
o'clock last night while Mrs. Whitcomb
and her two small children, a boy aged
s years and a girl aged 3 years, were
the only occupants of the house. Mr..
Whitcomb has been absent from the
city for several days. Mrs. Whftcomb
was reading to the children when q
heavy gust of wind from an open win
dow blew the shade of the lamp to the
uOOr ana shattered the glass chimney
She stepped toward the table to secure
the lamp, but in reaching for it acci-
dentally knocked it to the floor.
AS the lamp struck the floor it ex-
ploded, and drops of flaming oil flew
out in all directions, igniting Mrs. Whit
combs dress and the rugs and carpet Of
the room. The dress was of light ma
terial and in moment the lower por-
tion of Mrs. Whitcomb's clothing was
in flames.
Not needing her own danger, the
mothers first thought was for her chill
dren. With all haste she hurried the
little ones from the room. calling to the
boy to take his sister and tell the
neighbors. Once the children were out
side, she slammed the door and COM
menced to stamp out the fire that was
gaining a headway in the rugs and car
pet
With every movement the flames
about her body increased. Not, how
ever, until she stamped out the last
vestige of fire on the floor did she give
a thought to saving herself.
Her clothing was on fire to her waist
| when she picked up rug and endeay-
ored to stifle the flames. They did not
stif1e easily, and almost crazed with
pain she dropped the rug and started
for the bath room upstairs.
The wind blowing in through the
windows she passed on her flight
through the halls and up the stairs
famed the flames and her entire body
was enveloped in fire, when she threw
herself into the bath tub and turned on
! the water.
She was found there a few minutes
| later by the nefghbors the little boy
| summoned, as directed by his mother
! The clothing was almost entirely burn
| ed from her body and she was in a
| semi-conscious condition.
Medical aid arrived a half hour after
| the neighbors reached the Whitcomh
| home, and Mrs. Whitcomb's injuries
| were dressed. It was found that her
lower limbs were the most severely
burned but her entire body, with the
exception of her neck and face. suf-
| fered from the fire.
| Mrs. Whitcomb is today sufferinr
/ from the shock following her terrible
| experience, in addition to her injuries
| 1t will be several weeks before she viii
| be able to leave her bed.
| The presence of mind shown by Mrs
| Whitcomb was remarkable. The re-
| suits would probably have been very
| different had she not proved herself sc
| heroic.
! Mrs. Whitcomb is a most intellectual
| and refined woman. She was for sew
/ eral years associated with her husband
| in the practice of law and has writer
! several books that reveal a remarkable
| talent. During recent years she bas
! devoted her time to the care Of hel
| family.