Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1905-09-13
EXPLOSION OF KEROSENE
Fatal Burning of Hrs. AdOIph Buser
Near Phoenix.

Mrs AdoIph Buser. who resided
with her father-in-law and adopted
son. "A years old. on a little ranch a
half mile southeast of the asylum for
the insane. was accidentally and 50
badly burned Monday night that she
died yesterday morning between 3 and
O'Clock. Incidents of that character
are always indescribably terrible, but
the circumstances Of this one and the
frightful manner in which the woman
was burned make it perhaps the most
pitiful that ever occurred in this vi
cinity
Mrs. Buser was a rather stoutly
built woman, probably about 80 years
old. and was apparently in good
health but she had slight throat
trouble which had brought her to Ari-
iona several months ago and to life
ON a farm. where she confidently eX-
pected and had every reason to hope
for ultimate recovery. Her husband is
foreman of a silk mill in PhCenixville,
Pa. and it was his Intention TO join
her here in a few weeks to remain per-
manentIy Last spring she secured
the little ranch home southeast of the
asylum ana took up her residence
there with the relatives mentioned.
The adopted son returned on Mon
day evening from the Normal school
in Tempe. which he had but recently
entered. and the hour being a little
late Mrs Buser began hurrisdly to
prepare supper. The fire did not burn
briskly. and, thinking TO hasten mat
tiers. she resorted TO that almost in
H-ariablv fatal process of pouring kero-
sene upon it from a five-gallon can.
There was an almost instant eXplo-
-s<E- I,vrY fcplt
some of them half q mile away. and
some Of whom at once went to the
house to learn thu cause of il. When
they arrived they found the boy and
the old gentleman engaged in fighting
the flames. which only for their hasty
action would have consumed the house.
With the help of the neighbOrs the fire
was eXtinguished and the house saved.
In the meantime the boy had tried TO
extinguish the flames that we're burn
ing the clothing OF Mrs. Buser, by
whipping them out with a piece of car
pet. and as soon as assistance came
they We're smOthered, but it was seen
at once that the work of the fire had
been deadly and must prove fatal,
even though the victim retained con
scioUsness. and gave utterance to eX-
pressions of the most agOnizing ma
ture. She was taken as quickly as
possible to the asylum, where DR.
Ward and all the officials did every
thing that could be done, pending the
arrival of DR.. f. p. Palmer, who was
telephoned for at once. As quickly as
she could be moved she was brought
to the Sisters hospital in this city and
carefully attended until her death in
the early morning hours. Every ching
possible was done to alleviate her suf-
fering. but even that could not be
much, for there was nothing that sci
ence could even hone to do to effect
her recovery. The face and upper part
of the body were the most severely
burned. though the lower parts of the
body had been subjected to terrible
injury. The face was literally baked,
and the cuticIe of one of her hands
slipped off like a glove. There are two
features of injury by burning that
make recovery impossible. One is the
destruction of a large portion of the
skin and the other is inhalation of the
fire. In this case there was not a ser
ious inhalation of the fire except as to
the nostrils and lips. Mrs. Buser say
ing that she thought Of that at once and
tried to guard against it. But the other
condition existed to such an extent as
to Danish hope. The skin of the entire
DOQN Iad DeeI cooked OF ueSLiONe GU eA-
cept that of the feet which We're en-
closed in shoes, and around the waist
where the clothing fitted tightly.
Through most of her suffering,
which was so intense she sometimes
had to be held to her couch, she was
in command of her thoughts and gave
utterance to many expressions that
showed her thOughtfulness of hus-
band relatives and other things de-
pending upon her care. She said she
knew she could not survive and would
never see her husband again. Amid
all her suffering, she thoughtfully gave
directions for the disposition of some
of her effects, and told her friends
where she had secreted a small amount
of money in the house. She gave in
structions for the care Of a favOrite
horse which was suffering of a wire
cut, and also for the disposition of her
chickens which were of particularly
good stock, and which she had brought
here from Pennsylvania.
1t was learned yesterday that
though the burns of the boy are Sc
we're they are not particularly serious
and Will probably heal rapidly.
The husband was informed yester-
day morning Of the terrible news and
was asked what disposition to make
of the body, which had in the mean
time been removed to the undertaking