The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-08
EXPLOSIONS FEARFUL WORK.
BROUGHT An END TO = bright
LIFE IN WASHINGTON.

VnpOr From Gasoline Accidentally
Imnitcd by Fire in n Plumbers
Melting Pot-It Caused the Almost
InStmnt Dcnth Of Mrs. Marguerite
ntctins. VIE Of a Prominent Nav
al OhHcer and "a WeII-NnoVvn Lit
crury Womnn--The House Badly
Hurncd.
Washington. July 7.-Oficlal and unofi-
cial Washington alike were shocked to-
day by the tragic death from an explosions
Of gasoline at her home just west of
the British embassy, of Mrs. Marguerite
Dickns. one Of the best known women
in social literary and charitable circles
in Washington, and wife of Capt Francis
w. DielSlns OF the navy. who received tho
first official news Of the blowing up Of
the batleship Maine in Havana harbor.
The accident had many distressing fea-
lures ana came as fearful bow to Capt.
Dickns who was suddenly summoned
home from the navy department 10 find
his wife dead and the upper part OF his
house a wreck.
The Dickins residence is handsoms
street, directly back of the British em-
bassy, and within few steps of Dupont
Circle.
The first mtmauon Of the fire was q
low rumble at 1915 o'clock a. m, fol-
lowed by several violent shocks, which
blew out the entire third story front of the
residence. Tho quiet neighborhood was
Immediately thrown into The widest con-
fusion as engines, am1ulances and a larga
crowd assembled.
The firemon made their way to the third
story and in the extreme confusion and
among debris htJering the front room,
found the blackened corpse of woman.
Several streams of water were required 10
check The Ere.
Cause of the Accident.
From details Of the accident as learned
from those who were in the house az the
time, il appears that Joseph Vaughn, u
plumber ana his assistants were putting
on a gutter TO the rear OF the third story
roof, Having competed the job they des-
ccuded by means of a ladder 10 the third
story.
Vaughn carried in his hand a lighted
me. Hg pot As he descended he detected
the strong fumes of gasoline and through
the open door caught "A glimpse of a wo-
man sprinNiug some liquid on The floor
with The evident purpose Of preparing 10
cleanse lt. He gave a warning 10 his part
ncr ihat gasoline was being used and that
there was danger from the hrepot. but at
this instant terrific explosion occurred,
literally ehVeloping The entire third story
in a mass Of flames.
Those outside he building say there were
successive explosions and that the last
ones were 50 sharp ana violent that they
must have come from souvenir CARTRIDGES
or other explosives.
Explosion Caused Death.
Mrs Dicluns' death was undoubtedly
caused by the explosion, and il is not
believed she suffered any from the flames
which succeeded The rescuers were led
90 the spot by Plumber Vaughn, who was
himself badly burned about the face and
arms. He received these burns in an he
roic effort 10 rescue Mrs Dickns lie
and his assistant had entered the room In
which Mrs Dickins sat cleaning some
rugs when the explosion happened, The
two men were thrown down by the ex-
plosion. As soon as they found their feet
Vaughn seized Mrs Dicklns and attempts
ed 20 drag her from the room The flames
were, however, so fierce that he was com-
PEELED TO drop her ana fee for his own
life He thinks that she was then dead.
The explosion was Of such force that Il
rent the stone steps in front Of the house.
titles Of the gasoline had apparently been
spilled upon the floor.
Husbands sad Homecoming.
The most sorrowful scene occurred in
connection with the recovery and denti-
fication Of Mrs. Dicklns' body. In tho
midst Of the greatest excitement the first
report was that the backened body in
the upper story was that OF the wife of
a distinguished admiral In the navy. He
was summoned from his home near by
and not only detected the mistake, but
also gave the first definite Information
that Mrs. Dicklns was the one so hor-
ribly burned.
Word was sent TO the navy department,
where Capt. Dckins is, next to Admiral
Crowinsheld, at the head Of the bureau
of navigation. The exact character of the
catastrophe was not made known 10 him,
but he was taken hurredly to the Dick
ins residence in carrIage. Arriving
there the scene Of desolatlon and the
ominous looks of the dremen and officers
apprised him of what might be expected.
He almost tainted as was helped
from the carriage up the stone entrance
steps. Going inside he Identified the body
as that of his wife.
The body of Mrs. Dlckins was borne
TO the next house, where a surgeon Of
the navy resides
Like the Tracy Fire.
iHe 9Hf@NO't', - " ~ A"N"A NiAe1t@ " thN
fire are somewhat similar to those attend-
ing the fatality at the residence of Sec
retary Tracy some years ago which was
not far from the scene Of The present hor-
ror.
capt. Dickns is one of the best known
officers connected with the navy departs
ment and he was brought into prominence
at the time The Maine was blown up at
Havana He was then acting chief Of
the navigation bureau and it fell to his lot
TO receive the first dispatch from Capt.
Slgsboe giving information Of that APP
paning disaster Throughout the days
following that momentous event Capt.
Dickins was the recipient of the official
messages bringing the details Of that dis
aster.
Mrs. DiclSins was an authoress of some
note, one of her best known books being
Around the World In a Man-of-War"
She was also a frequent contributor 10