The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-08

Mrs. Jones sacrificed her life in an eff
fort to save her new home from burn
ing. 1t was while she was running to
the flaming stove with a large rug, for
the purpose of smothering the fire, that
her skirts became ignited- She rushed
out of doors, her dress in flames. Mrs.
Mary Warren, who was with her wnen
the accident happened, had gone with
bucket to the pump in the adjoining
yard for the purpose of getting water to
put out the fire. z. WOodford, who lives
next door, heard the screams, and ran
out with a rug which he threw around
Mrs. Jones, extinguishing the fire. Dan
iel Francis, another neighbOr, saved the
house from burning by pulling the gas
oline stove, which was a mass OF flame,
out of the back door.
Mr.. and Mrs. Jones were married
about six years ago at Chicago, ana
lived at Tecumseh for some time after
their marriage Then they came to To-
peka, and occupied the house next door
10 the place where the accident occurr-
ed The new house, on the corner, was
built by Mr. Jones this summer, and
Mr.. and Mrs. Jones moved in only
week ago. the Woodford family taking
possession of their old home. Mr.. Jones
left for st. Louis as soon as they had
become settled in their new location.
Mr.. Jones daughter says that the last
thing Mr. Jones said to his wife before
taking his departure was:
Well. Hattie. be careful of yourselfi
Don't let anything happen to you like
happened to Mrs Hazen.''
The only eyewitness of the beginning
of the tragedy was Mrs Mary Warren,
of 1155 Wayne avenue Mrs Warren
had been staying with Mrs. Jones at
night during the absence of Mr.. Jones
in St Louis. Mrs. Warren says:
Mrs. Jones and l occupied rooms
right across the hall from each other.
Sunday morning / heard Mrs Jones
stirring around for some time before 1
got up. While 1 was dressing, Mrs
Jones called me- She said, I wish you'o
matter with. this gasoline stove
went right to her. for 1 was afraid
Something had happened. She said that
the gasoline would not drip out into
the cups, although she had just filled
the tank I looked at the tank. and
saw that there was a lot of gasoline on
top of it. She had put a rag there to
absorb it. but the rag had not absorbed
1t. said to her that she ought to get
that gasoline off before she lighted the
stove. and she Said she intended to. 1
examined the stove and found that the
tank was too full. / unscrewed the
cap, and when 1 did so that let the gas
oline drip down into the cups all right
/ think Mrs. Jones at once lighted the
gasoline and somehow it got to blazing
I'D high. The stove got so hot we could
not turn of the gasoline and remem-
bered having read somewhere that by
throwing something over to stop the
holes in the burner, the fire would go
out. thought i would go out in the
yard and get some sand to throw on.
but by that time Mrs. Jones had picked
up a small rug with which she was
trying to smother the fire Then we
threw on some water we had there. but
nothing did any good. I said to Mrs.
Jones. Shall I go and get some more
~ater?' and she said Yes The stove
was blazing terribly by that time. Mrs.
Jones said oh, my God, the house is
going to burnt The housed The house!'
She brought a big rug in from the din
ing room and rushed right into the flame
81 CT
u had seized the bucket and started out
the door. After had gone a few steps,
turned. and saw Mrs. Jones come out
on the back porch. 1 saw that her
dress was blazing up behind. she was
screaming, and trying to put the fire
out. 1t seemed like was paralyzed- I
stopped right where I was She came
down the steps, and her dress began to
burn harder Then / came to myself
and started after the water. Mrs. Jones
seemed to try to follow me. Mr.. Wood