The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-17
TWO DEAD, ONE Dying
RESULT OF EARLY MORNING EXPLO-
SION AT BROAD RIPPLE.
Roy Jones, Twelve Years old. and
Bryan Jones, Four, Were
Burned to Death.
THEIR MOTHER ALSO IN DANGER
SHE WAS BADLY BURNED IN TRYING
TO RESCUE THEM.
Her Injuries, I'm Addition to the Shock
May Result Fatnlly-HOuse
Burned TO Ground.

An explosion of coal oil yesterday morn
ing, at Broad Ripple. resulted in the death
OF Roy Jones' twelve years of age. and
Bryan Jones' four years old, and may re-
suit in the death of their mother. who was
also badly burned and suffered from shock
and grief over the loss of her children.
Jones' who is a shoemaker and truck
gardener. arose about oc clock, and before
going out to work in the garden told his
boys TO get up and build a fire. Roy Jones
poured some oil on to kindling in the stove
and then applied a match. A moment later
the fire had. apparently, gone out, and the
boy, in an endeavor TO hurry the building
of the fire. poured more oil from the can
into the stove. While doing this an explo-
sion occurred and the oil remaining in the
can was thrown over him and his younger
brother and Immediately caught fire. The
boys began screaming and their cries at
tracted Mrs. Jones. who had just finished
dressing She ran to their assistance, find
ing both of them rushing wildly about the
ROOM She dragged both into the yard and
tried TO tear off their clothing. Samuel
Morris, a section foreman, and Charles
Boardman. living near by, heard the cries
Of the children and also of Mrs. Jones' and
ran to the home, which was then burning
rapidly. With the aid of water and by pull
ing at the burning clothes Of the lads, the
fire was put out there.
Roy Jones was burned from head to foot
and DR.. Light, who attended him. said
there was not a spot on his body as large
as a silver quarter which was not burned.
Except about the feet the burns did not
seem 10 be deep. He died about 10 o'clock.
He was conscious up to the time of his
death and did not, said Dr. Light, seem to
suffer any pain
but his death resulted about IL o'clock. He
was attended by Or. Bennett, who seemed
surprised that the boy should die He. too,
was conscious until death and suffered but
little. He had been taken to the home of
Samuel Morris, where the mother was
taken. She was badly burned about the
hands and face, but not seriously as to
cause death, ii was thought by the physi-
clans at the time, but later her condition
might result from the burns and shock. She
had been in delicate health for some time.
The house burned so rapidly that by the
time the volunteer department arrived and
hundred feet distant, the roof had fallen in
and there was no chance of saving the
nome, which was fOur-roOm cottage.
Nothing was saved from the house, and the
there was no insurance. The efforts of the
volunteer department prevented the
spread OF the fire to the residence of Will
liam i. Lock, to which Roy Jones was car
ried, and TO a sawmill near by.
number of campers, who were passing,
a square away, ran to the fire and rescued
Mrs. Nancy Toole eighty years of age,
mother of Mrs. Jones, from the burning
building. She was i'll and unable to leave
her bed.
Late last night the condition of Mrs.
Jones was critical, and DR.. Light thought
she might not live until morning.