The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-08
KILLED BY AN EXPLOSION
FATE OF MRS. DICKENS, WIFE OF A
WELL-KNOwN NAVAL OFFICER.
Was Cleaning Rugs with Gasoline
when Plumbers Entered with q
Firepot-Ihe Victim an Authorizes.

WASHINGTON. July IAN explosion In
the residence OF Captain Dickins. of the
United States navy, at 1915 o'clock this
morning resulted in the death of Mrs. Dick
ms. The Dickins residence is a handsome
three-story brick building on Nineteenth
street directly back of the British embassy
and within few steps of Dupont circle.
The first intimation of the disaster was
low rumble. followed by several violent
shocks, which blew out the entire third
story front of the residence.
From the details of the accident as
learned from those who were I'm the house
at the time it appears that Joseph Vaughan.
a plumber, and his assistant were putting
on a gutter to the rear of the third-story
roof. Having completed the job. they de-
scended by means of a ladder TO the third
story. Ore of the men carried in his hand
a lighted melting pot. AS he descended
Vaughan detected the strong fumes OF
gasoline, and through the open door to the
front room caught glimpse of a woman
cleaning rugs with the liquid. lie gave
warning to his partner that gasoline was
being used and that there was danger from
the fire pot, but 1t was too late, for as the
men entered the room the explosion fol-
lowed, and the entire third story was liter
ally enveloped in mass of flames. Those
outside the building say there were sue
cessive explosions and that the last ones
were so sharp and violent that they must
have come from souvenir cartridges or other
explosives.
Mrs. Dickins's death was undoubtedly
caused by the explosion, and IL is rot be-
heved she suffered any from the flames
which followed. The rescuers were led to
he l.xr
himself badly burned about the face and
arms. He received these burns in a heroic
effort to rescue Mrs. Dickins. The two men
were thrown down by the explosion.
Vaughan reached Mrs. Dickins and at
tempted to drag her from the room. The
flames were. however. so fierce that he was
compelled 10 drop her and flee for his own
lie. he thinks that she was then dead
rent the stone steps in front OF the house.
Inc plumbers say that considerable quanti-
ties OF the gasoline had apparently been
The most sorrowful scene occurred In
connection with the recovery and identfn-
cation of Mrs. Dckinss body In the midst
OF the greatest excitement the first report
was that the blackened body in the upper
story was that Of the wife OF a disfin-
guisned officer of the navy. He was sum-
rnoned from his home near by. He not only
detected the mistake, but also gave the
nrst definite information that Mrs. Dickins
was tire one .OrllDly burned. word
sent TO the Navy Department, where Cant.
Dickins Is, next TO Admiral Crowninshield
al the head OF the Bureau of Navigation
The exact character of the accident was
not made known 10 him. but he was brought
hurriedly TO the Dickins residence In a car
riage- He almost tainted as he was helped
from the carriage up the stone entrance
steps. Going inside. ne Identified the body
as that of his wife The body OF Mrs
Dickins was borne to the next house, where
a surgeon of the navy resides.
The suddenness and fatal effects of the
nre are somewhat similar to those attend
ing the fatality at the residence OF Secre-
tary Tracy seven years ago. which was not
Tar from the scene OF the present horror
Captain Dickins is one of the best known
onlcers connected with the Navy DEPART
ment, and he was brought into prominence
az the time the Maine was blown up at
havana lie was then acting chief OF the
Navigation Bureau. and IL fell 10 his lot TO
receive the first dispatch from Captain
Sigsbee giving information of that disaster.
Mrs. Dickins was an authoress of some
note. one of her best known books beinR
Around the World I'm a Man-of-war" She
zines.