Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1903-01-22
SIX PERTONS
IMPERILLED

1llp TtSlfeDtt Vi L uhG GNs ~ Os
109 Center street, took fire Tuesday
night and 1T was only by a miracle
that thefamily of six persons were not
burned in their beds. During an effort
to extinguish the fire a lamp exploded
and Mr.. McVey was shockingly burn
ed
About 10 o'clock Tuesday night the
family retired leaving the kitchen
lamp burning for the accommodation of
the eldest son, James, who was absent
at party. The lamp was an ordinary
bracket light fastened to the window
frame Immediately above a lounge.
Mr.. and Mrs. McVey occupied the
| bedroom Immediately above the kitch-
en- and communicating with it by a
stairway. In the front room the four
children of the family slept. These
were Mary, girl of about fifteen,
William, boy of ten or twelve, and
Catherine and Lizzie, still younger.
Shortly after midnight William
awoke. He said the air in the room
felt hot and uncomfortable and there
was a strong odor of smoke He rushed
down stairs and found the kitchen III
flames. Nearly overcome and bewild-
cred he rushed ont the front door and
thinking it was still carly started for
neighbor's under the impression that
his parents were thero making an even
ing call. Remembering his three
sisters and realizing that they might
be burned to death he rushed into the
house again, making his way through
the burning room 10 the second story
where he gave the alarm.
1t was the boy William who saved
the family. His attempt to arouse his
sisters had the effect of awakening his
parents, who were made aware of their
peril
Rushing down stairs they found the
window OH fire and the lounge already
consumed along with a quantity of
carpet and other articles. Water was
handy, however, and the entire family
set to work and soon had the flames
under control. At this point, how
ever. bad accident occurred.
The lamp still burning was heated
intensely hot and Mr. McVey fearing
an explosion proceeded to remove it
out of doors He had scarcely more
than seized it, when it exploded in his
hands. He was in his underclothing
and these were saturated with oil and
took fire. His left hand and his left
foot and leg from the knee down were
most shockingly burned, the flesh be-
ing literally roasted. Overcome by
pain and the effect of the smoke Mr..
McVey fell forward striking his head
upon some furniture and inficting a
bad cash upon his head.
DR.. Paules was called to attend the
injured man. Last evening Mr.. Nc
Vey was resting easily and was able
to talk over the thrilling experience
of the night before He says the only
way that he can account for the origin
of the fire is that the lamp, although
turned down when the family retired,
must have burned higher during the
night and set fire to the window cur
tain which falling upon the couch set
it on fire. While the latter was burn
ing the fire communicated to the win
dow sash and frame and soon envelop-
ed the whole corner of the room. The
fire had already eaten through the
window to the outside when discover
ed. Nothing but prompt and cool
headed action on the part of the family
saved the house and so quietly did
they work that even the next neigh
bors, although aroused, were unaware
that there was any fire.
Mr. McVey has been the victim of
many accidents. He was very badly
hurt in the boiler explosion at the
Reading Iron Works few years ago
and was laid up for a long time. A
few years previous he lost an eye in
an accident at the mill, while on an
other occasion he was badly injured
while working in drain under the
works. Another employe unconscious
of his presence in the drain emptied a
boiler with the result that Mr.. McVey
was overtaken by the deluge of boil
ing water and terribly scalded.