The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1899-07-08
MRS. DICKENS DEATH
Was Caused by the Carelessness
of a COnnle OF Tinnera.

Washington. Juy FIRE ana eXpb-I
sion n the residence OF Captain Dicl, mel
OF the United states navy. al io.45 ihisI
morning, resulted n the death OF Mrs.
Dickens, who was fearfuuy burned andI
died before medical assistance cou,
reach her. Other persons about the house
were severely but not dangerous.s
wounded
The Dickens residence is handsome
three story brick building on Nineteenth
street directly back of the British embas-
sy and within a few steps of Dupont cr-|
Gle The first lntlmation OF the fire was ,
low rumble followed by several violent
shocks. which blew out the entire third
story front of the residence The fremen
made their way to the third story ln O
among the debris littering the front
room. found the blackened corpse OF a
woman
From the details Of the accident as|
learned from those who were IN the
house at teh time it appears that Joseph
Vaughn, a plumber. and his assistant
we're putting on gutter 60 the rear o.
the third story roof Having completed
the job. they descended by means of a
ladder to the thiri story one man c1r-
ried 10 his hand lighted melting pot As
he descended Vaughn detected tn, strong
fumes Of gasoline and through the
open door OF the front room caught a
glimpse Of woman sprnkling some liquid
on the floor with the evident purpose of
| moned from his home nearby and came
preparing to cleanse IT, He gave warning
10 his partner that gasoline was being
used ana that there was danger from
Ia. Fta "a
! rble explosion occurred literally en-
yeloping the third story ia mass Of
flames. Those outside the building say
there were successive explosions. and
that the last ones were so sharp and vIo.
lent that they must have come from sou-
venr cartridges or other explosives
The two men succeeded in making Their
way 20 the rear windows where they got
to a one story house building and thence
to the ground. They We're severely burn
ed about the hands and face.
The most sorrowful scene occurred i'm
| connection with the recovery and idout.
ication OF Mrs Dickens body. In the
midst Of the greatest excitement tn. first
report OF the blackened body On the uppo,
story was that of the wife Of "a d.sting
uished admiral Of the navy lie was sum
moned from his home nearby and came
and not only detected the mistake but
gave the hrst definite Information that
Mrs. Dickens was the one SO horribly
burned. Word was sent to the navy de-
partment wh1!e Captain Dickens is next
10 Admiral Crowniushieid at the head OF
tine bureau Of navigation The exact
character Of the catastrophe was not
made known but he was brought hurried
ly to the Dickens residence I'm a carriage
He almost tainted as he was helped from
he carriage up TIE stone entrance steps.
Going inside he ilentined the body as|
that Of his wife The body OF Mrs d ok
ems was borne TO the next house. where
surgeon Of the navy resides
The suddenness and fatal effects Of the
fire are somewhat similar to those st.
tending the FIRE at the residence Of Sec
Tracy some years ago. which was not far
from the scene OF the present horror
captain Dickens is one OF the hest
known Officers connected with the nav,
department. and he was brought INTO
prominence at the time the Maine wa
blown up at Havana lie was then sct-
Ing chief Of the navigation bureau an, h
ZEN to his lot 20 receive tho nrqt dis
patch from Captain sigsbee. giving IN
formation OF that disaster.
Mis Dickens was an autbors.,.
some note. one Of her best know, h,ot,s
being Around the World On a Man IN
war She was also "a frequent CON.
tributor 10 magazines