The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-02-15
BODY BURNED
TO A CRISP.
Mrs. Catherine Clark Falls
Upon a Lamp and is
Burned to Death

What is looked upon as the most
horrible Of deaths is that OF the
burning to death of Mrs. Catharine
Clark OF No. l.llO3 Chestnut street,
Between eleven o'clock last night
and ) o'clock this morning. Mrs.
Clark had been living in the house
by herself, her husband having
died about two years ago. She had
no children except two stepchlldren
and they were not in the house at
the time. Most OF the furniture had
been removed IRON the house and it
is supposed that she was about 10
move away.
She is supposed 10 have gone to
bed bout eleven o'clock. She was
carrying lamp in her hand and
stumbled and fell. lu falling she
fell directly across the lamp and
the fire began there and then with
a shoulder, which was not dlscov-
cred until later.
twas about three o'clock this
morning when Miss Mamie, Gardner
oil Chestnut aud Harrison streets.
was passing along Chesnut street
on her way home from a wedding
reception, she noticed smoke issuing
from the windows of the second
story OF the house. With the pres
ence of mind that is rarely exhibit
ted bv person in the advent Of
fire. Miss Garduer ran to the door
aud began to pound upon il. Find
ing that she could not get an an
swer she went to the next door
ueighbor, Frank W. Keenan,, aud
succeeding in arousing him. One
OF the first neighbors to awaken was
+. W. Queripel, who keeps gro
Gerry store on the corner. lie I'M
mediately arose and saw volumes
OF smoke issuing frcm what ne
thought was his stable lie hastily
donnet his clothing aud rushed out
upon the street. expecting to see
his stable in flames. AS soon as
he reached the pavement he saw
that the smoke vas coming IRON
the Clark residence. HIS stable 10
a one.story frame structure ard is
between the store and the Clark
home, and contained horse. two
wagons and a carriage. These
Mr.. Queripe! began to remove with
all haste and succeeded in getting
them out Just as the lire engines ar
rived. The alarm having been
sounded by one OF the neighbors,
The fire plugs were all frozen
and as no water could be obtained
the fire companies did not 90 into
action. The Weccacoe chemical
apparatus and the haud reXtln.
gu,shers Of the varions trucks were
brought into play and succeeded IN
putting out the fire. The .oss Wlil
amount to about 500.
Wh.rc the lamp had fallen the
fire had burned hole through the
floor and Mrs. Clark $ legs had
dropped through the opening. but
the hole was not large enough to
admit her body and 10 this almost
upright position she met death in a
most horrible lOrm. Her ooay from
her chest down was burned to a
crisp. The Phoenix ambulance
was summoned and removed what
remained of the body tothc morguc,
where it is at present.
Deputy Coroner Chandler, unon
Inquiry, learned that Mrs. Clark
had relatives living in kennett
Square and Immediately entered
into communication with them.
They have ordered Mr., Chandler to
take charge Of body the until their
arrival.
We think that all the praise can
be showered upon Miss Gardnc. is
not sufficient honor for the brave
act that she performed. Had she
not aroused the neighbors the ca
lamity would have been a great
deal worse. Mrs. Clark is over
fifty years OF age.
Martin Shay, OF kennett Square,
a nephew OF the deceased, came
here today aud made arrangements
Tor the funeral.