The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-07-07
BURNS WERE FATAL.
Westboro Woman
at the Memorial
Hospital.
SUFFERED FRIGHTFUL PAIN.
Mrs. Charles Segar Had
Terrible Experience
Bitten by a Dog.

Westboro, July GA horrible burn
ing accident occurred here this after
noon about 2.45 o'clock, in which Mrs.
Charles Segar was fatally burned.
Mrs. Segar resided in the upper part
of the bakery owned by j. A. Trow-
bridge in the rear of Harry w. Kim
balls store. She had earned her owr
living and that of her nine-year-old
son ever since she came to town, by
taking in washing.
About half past two people who were
in the neighborhood of the bakery
heard the unearthly yells of woman in
distress and soon after Mrs. Segar was
seen on the piazza of her house, COM
pletely wrapped in flames. William
Bates and others started to her assist
ance, .and after smashing door down
with an axe succeeded in getting to her
aid.
She was taken into a sleeping room
In Wetherbee's restaurant, and Drs.
T. H. Aver and D. P. Cilley quickly ar
rived upon the scene and rendered med
ical assistance. The patient was given
morphine to quiet her, and then the
doctors proceeded to dress her wounds.
Her whole body was burned so that
the skin hung in shreds. Her hair was
gone, as were also her eyelashes and
winkers. All the clothing, except one
stocking, that she had on, was all
burned from her person. She expressed
wish to be taken to the Memorial
hospital in Worcester, as she had been
there before, and she was taken there
on the 1927 train.
She was taken in a team on stretch
er to the train, and DR.. T. H. Aver and
William Magner accompanied her to
the hospital. 1t Is not thought that she
can possibly recover. AS a washer
woman, she had no superior in this
town, and about $50 worth of washing
was burned in the fire. Her little son
Albert was at the residence of Noble
Hewitt, on Myrtle street, playing with
some playmates, and did not arrive I'M
til the mother was on her way to the
station.
Mrs. Segar had not lived with her
husband for long time, and did not
know where he was.
The firemen had hard time ex-
tinguishing the flames, as they had a
bad place to work in. A cat and little
kittens were In the house, but the cat
was taken out in safety by a fireman,
who brought her down a ladder. The
damage to the building will probably
amount to about $50.
The building is a regular firetrap and
is noted for its frequent blazes. 1t is
as dry as chip, and hot fire in the
bake oven all day only helps to dry the
building. Mrs. Segar said that what
little money she had was burned up
but it was afterward found and saved
| for her. 1t was rumored that the fire
started from the explosion of a kero-
sene stove, but Chief Engineer James
4 I'm IL i
and reported that he did not think thai
an explosion caused it, as the stoves
were in good condition.
The opinion is that Mrs. Segar, in
| Wiping an extra hot f1at-iron on a cloth
| set fire to the ironing board, and that
| her clothing caught fire so quickly that
she was unable to extinguish the
| flames. People having washing that
was in Mrs. Segar's possession car
| have it by notifying Overseer of the
Poor William H. Wagner.
Mrs. Segar died from her burn:
| shortly past II O'clock tonight in Memo
rial hospital
James McKenna was bitten by dos
| this morning. Mr.. McKenna was walk
ing on Water street and when near tn
residence Of James Collins, a dog be
| longing to Collins went for Mr.. Nc
| henna WITHOUT any proVocation, ant
| bit him in hts right arm in two places
besides badly tearing his coat sleeve
| DR.. Daniel P. Cilley was summoned AM
cauterized the wound.
| The funeral of Benjamin H. Stood,
| took place at his late residence on tn,
old Cobb place, on Milk street, this af
ternoon at 2.30 o'clock. Rev. Harry S
| Mitchell of the Unitarian church Off
ciated. The body will be taken t
| North Andover tomorrow morning TO
burial. Mr.. Stoodly has for years live,
on the old Cobb place, and has carrie,
on the farm work. He was a highl,
respected citizen. He served in tn
civil war, and was member of Arthu
G. Biscoe post of this village.
Mrs. George S. Parker and son HaroI
started for st. John, NJ B., today
where they will visit friends during tn
rest of the summer.
George H. Taft and Howard C. Cur
ran have gone to Monument Beach 70
a few days outing
DIR. Charles S. Knight went to Onse
Bay today, to be the guest OF Capt. /
D. Smalley of this town, who is SO
journing there.