The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-07-06
CALIFORNIA FIG SYRUP co.
SAN FRANCISCO. Cal
LOUISVILLE. Nv. NFw YORK n. -

MIS-. " sullivan Ine WIG OA the NiSC-
president of the United States Fidelity
and Casualty company. Her town house
IS at No. East Forty-seventh street, ad-
joining the wreck of the Windsor hotel
Strangely enough, it was this fire that by
chance Of circumstances led TO her in
jury, for had the Windsor not burned TO
the ground Mrs. O'Sullivan would not
have gone to Plainfield. Mrs. O'Sullivan
was shocked by the Windsor tragedy. Her
house, adjoining the hotel in Forty-sev-
enfh street, stood within the fire zone
and itself was partially wrecked. The
scene of that day. victims plunging to
death, the turmoil and excitement, all
added to the strain upon her nerves After
leaving the half-wrecked home in Forty
seventh street, she was taken TO NO. lS'
Madison avenue. There II was hoped that
quiet and the change would restore her
health, but apparently there was little
Improvement. A few weeks ago Mrs.
O'Sullivan's physician ordered her to the
country. Plainfield was selected, and Mr..
O'Sullivan engaged apartments at the
Hotel HunterStou. Here ii was expected
that the quiet and the invigorating air
would soon restore her. and, "a fact.
she certainly was bettered by it.
Yesterday morning Mrs. OSullivan
drove into Plainfield. With her was Mrs.
+. w. Coleman. wife of Major Coleman,
proprietor of the Hunterston. After max
ing a call Mrs. O'Sullivan drove to the
dry goods store, and. with Mrs. Coleman
alighted. Mrs. O,Sullivan was dressed in
a light muslin gown. Its skirt was edged
with a soft and voluminous flounce, and,
in addition, her petticoat was heavily
| trimmed with soft and delicate laces.
| Lifting the skirt so that the flounces we're
| free of the floor, Mrs. OSullivan walked
| along toward the rear. Beyond her was
/ Mrs. Coleman looking for goods In an
| other part Of the shop.
| clerk came forward to wait upon Mrs
| O'Sullivan. AS she turned toward the
/ counter she dropped her skirt. An indis-
! tinct vet noticeable crackle caught the
| ears aof the cler and he leaned over the
| counter. A thin thread of smoke curled
up from the edge of the hounce, and be-
meath II a sudden ray Of flame streaked
| out.
.Fire" screamed the clerk, rushing to
the street.
! Mrs. OSullivan for an instant gazed
! after him. Then, with a faint cry she
| looked down at her gown. As she bent her
head the flame seemed to scorch up the
side Of her gown, searching throughout
the himy fabric with incredible swiftness.
"Oh! oh! she screamed. Il am on firei'
The words still moved her lips when
she screamed again-this time in agony.
The flames, eating through the texture of
the gown. had scared her flesh. ParalyZed
| with fright, Mrs Coleman stood helpless
| TO aid her friend. and then Mrs. O'Sulli-
van began TO run. Up and down the mar
row aisle she ran, scream after scream be-
traying her pain. Outside stil stood the
| clerk yelling Fire while within the
Others watched. pa.sed with excitement
beyond the power of lending help. Once
at the door Mrs. O'Sullivan turned. She
| fed again to the rear, the flames swirling
about her, roaring upward in the draught
| cIirging TO her limbs. and with insatiate
| per sisteuce gathering in each fold and
| fiounce Of the iuflammable cloth.
Again she turned, dashing back toward
the door. her screams ringing throughout
the building. On the second floor was
Manager William Carson. He heard the
cry Of agony. flew down the stairs. and al
the head of the shop saw Mrs o'Sullivar
wrapped around with fire and vainly beat
ing at her gown with uugloved hands.
Mr.. Carson raced to her aid. As he rar
he stripped himself Of his coat and witt
II outStretchcd pursued Mrs. OSul!ivan
Frenzied with pain she had rot seen the
rescuer and In her flight backward an(
forward was running from him.
In the center Of the shop he seized her
his outstrotched arms enveloping her il
| the coat Vainly. IN her agony, the un
fortunate woman struggled TO escape
Then for an instant the flames embraced
them both; the man. with his arms swath
"a i'm flame. grimly fighting AT the fir
with stoical energy.
Once the blaze hurst about the coat. an
flying upward. CTept about her head ant
neck. Her hair, drawn down in her agony
caught. too and, lifting his coat, Carso1
wound II about her head Again an
| again. beating ut the blaze with his bar
hands. ne fought the fire and EliZabet
| O'Keefe saleswoman, coming 20 his aid
dragged away piecemeal the charred an
smoking gown.
The flames were subdued. Mrs. O'Sul
| livan, moaning with pain was haIf lee
half carried II the managers Office. en-
an ambulance summoned from the Aiu1
. ! lenburg hospital. Before it arrived d.
: ! Probasco entered the store. and strove {
| alleviate her suffering. She was SHOCK
: ingiy burned Save for her face and pal
, Of her left arm. the IRE had not spare
) her. and the eye OF the physician note
at once that she could not live.
: Mrs. OSnllivsn was put in the ambJ
! lance and hurried 10 the hospital. Mr.
s | C,,n,,,a, frorfg. NTH z~faF vas take
home Mr.. O'Sinlivsn was wired 70. an
E left on an early train. At first, II va
not expected that his wife would i've Il
e he arrived. but her vitality prceed stroni
There is no hope that she can be saw
z ed" said tue hospital Superintendent
!. she Is wcefuily Injured"
l Mrs. o'Suliivsn IS young and attractive
She has no relatives living