Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-05-02
MISS LOLA DOUGLAS
PROBABLY FATALLY BURNED.
Dress Catches Fire While She is.
Endeavoring to Extinguish the
Flames Starded by Overturned
Lamp.

FLAMES Starded by Overturned
Lamp.
But For I ely Assistance of
Neighbors Would Have Burned
To Death in Few Minutes.
When Rev. and Mrs. w. Il.
Douglas left home yesterday even
ing, each going on different mis-
sion, and leaving the children of
the household in charge Of their
l3-year-old daughter, Lolo May,
little did they suspect that they
were soon to he summoned home
by the terrible mishap that has
caused such great sorrow in every
home in Missouri Nalley today.
Before leaving the house Mrs.
Douglas sent the children upstairs
to bed, placing a lamp on the sew
ing machine in the corner of one
of the rooms. Soon after the de-
parture of their parents the chill
dren commenced to play as chill
dren will, pillow fights, ETC., being
INDUCED in for some time, but
about $50 the children heard
some one walking on the sidewalk
outside and thinking their parents
we're returning two of the children
crawled in behind the sewing ma
chine, the motive prompting the
act being unknown, unless it was
with the intention of jumping out
and frightening their parents
when the latter entered the room.
just exactly what happened aft
er the children had succeeded in
gaining their point of concealment
behind the machine is rather hard
to ascertain just at present, owing
to the severe fright all concerned
received, but from the knowledge
obtainable regarding the unfortu
mate affair it appears one of the
children struck the machine in
such a manner and with sufficient
force to topple it over, throwing
the lighted lamp to the floor. The
instant the lamp struck the hare
floor it broke, scattering the oil
broadcast, and the next instant the
infamible fluid was sfire. Seeing
the terrible consequences that
would result from the fire, Miss
Lola attempted to extinguish the
flames, but in less than thirty sec
onds the blazing oil had ignitec
her dress and in an instant sht
was enveloped in flames. For one
of her age she exhibited a remark
able presence of mind. First she
envoloped herself in heavy rug
but this method proving ineffectu
al she rushed down stairs and ou
the front door to guard agains
the starting of another fire in ths
house, in which her charges ye
remained, some of them asleep
Noticing w. O. Reed directl,
across the street as she left the
house, she rushed towards him
Mr.. Reed grasped the terrible sit
uation in an instant and realized
his inability to combat the fame
in an effectual manner. 81,
reached the little girl just as sh'
was crossing the street and throw
ling her into the dust of the roat
he attempted to smother the fir,
by the application of several larg'
handsful of dirt. This to a Ger
tain extent retarded the progress
of the flames and in less than ,
minute other neighbors who wer'
witnesses to the terrible seen,
procured blankets and water ant
wrapping the little girl from hea'
to foot extinguished the flame
. but not before they had accom-
plished their terrible work, infict
ling injuries from which it is high
lily probable the young heroin
will never recover.
! While Mr.. Reed and other
were caring for the little girl, 9th
er neighbors entered the house
some carrying the children t