The Washington times., 1904-07-28
FOUR PERSONS BURNED
BY BLAZING GASOLINE
Painful Accident in the Home of Mrs.
Lillian Costa in CalifOr-
MIA Street

Four persons were severely burned by
the explosion of a basin Of gasolene
in the kitchen of Mrs. Lillian Costa, lZ7
California Street northeast last even
ing.
They were Mrs. Costa, burned on the
right arm and suffering from shock:
Paul Toriano. four years old. burned on
head, arms, legs and back; Percy Ack
eTman. two years old, Of I2e California
Street northeast, and Joseph Costa.
whose hands were badly burned while
he was trying to rescue the two children
from the flames.
Physicians at the Emergency Hos
pital. where TorianO was taken, re-
ported this morning that he was resting
quietly and doing as well as could be
expected. although his condition is re-
garded as serious. and the burns may
prove fatal
DR.. William p. Reeves, who is attend
ing Alderman said today that the boy
was suffering greatly from his numer-
Gus burns and had a restless night. but
would probably recover. Mrs. Costa
and her husband were not seriously
burned. and their injuries were dressed
by the family physician
Cleaning a Sink.
At the time the explosion occurred
Mrs. Costa was in the kitchen alone.
Thinking she had turned out both burn
ers of the gasolene stove which she
used TO prepare dinner on. she poured
out a basinful Of gasoline with which
TO clean out a sink. After soaking a rag
IN the combustible fluid Mrs. Costa at
tempted 10 pass the stove 20 go 10 the
on the opposite side Of the room. Con-
trary to her belief all OF the burners
were not turned of. and wheo the rag
soaked with gasolene got 700 close to
the stove an explosion occurred. The
raom was filled with the fumes Of the
Easolene and in a moment Mrs Costa
was envelOped in flames and the basin
was blazing.
Alderman and Toriano who were
playing In the front ward. were attract
ed 10 the kitchen by Mrs. Costa g
screams and The blaze The two chill
dren tugged at her blazing sleeves olld
skirt and IN beating the flames out
their own clothing was ignited and they
began TO scream.
The cries of the trio awakened Joseph
Costa. who was asleep IN an adjOiniqu
room. He rushed into the kitchen and
Smothered out the blaze on Ackerrna u =
clothing. with a heavy wooden shirt
ana lutf turned 10 lUIlhlD. ana FGTf
all OF his flaming clothing or. Mrs Cos.
ia. nCtwithsta nding the fact that Sh-
was horribly burned on the arms. as
sisted her husband IN smOthering jhe
fire In the children's clothing. end Was
burned worse than she was before.
Fire Alarm Sounded.
Some one hearing the screams Of are
turned IN an alarm from a nearby box
and within a short time a large crowd
was gathered around the house adding
new excitement 10 the accident Calis
were sent into the Emergency Hospital
and the ambulance, which arrived in q
few moments. conveyed Toriano 10 the
hospital where his burns were fmmedi-
ately swathed with bandages soaked N
cooling lotions.
The Alderman lad was taken 10 1i,
home. and Dr.. Reeves was summoned Il
dress his injuries The boy was regard.
ed as seriously injured and DIT Reeves
bandaged him from head TO foot in or
der 10 cover his burns. He lay upon Z
couch at his home all evening groduins
II agony and his mother sat best 4.
him, watching for fear the end might
come II she left him for a moment.
DR.. Jesse ShOup attended Mr. and Mrs
Costa IN their homes. II was necessat,
10 place Mrs. Costa under the influence
Of narcotic. because she was prOstrat
ed BY the shock Of the accident
When the firemen responded 10 the
alarm they had nothing 10 do, as Ia,
without setting fire 10 the woodwork