The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-11-08

Robert spellman. aged three years, was
playing I'm his home at 17os Thirty
street northwest yesterday afternoon
about o'clock. making animals" with
matches on the floor. Four hours later he
breathed his last. a chaued little mite
Of humanity. almost hidden from sight by
bandagcs. lying on a cot in Georgetown
Hospital
To-day his mother is between life and
death. suffering from dangerous burns
on her face, neck. breast. and arms. and
the nervous shock resultant from seeing
her baby boy burning TO death, for she
heard the child scream and tried to save
his life at the risk Of her own.
The father and husband, James SPELL
man. an cmployc of the washington Gas
Ight Company. IS prostrated with grief,
and his four children cry for little Bob"
Tor the baby boy was beloved.
IL was "a tragic death. Mrs. Spell
man. who was the only one 10 see It,
can tell how it happened. She remem-
tcrs her husband LETT the house shortly
after dinner, saying he was going TO
visit a friend. and would return In time
for supper She also remembers she
carried Bob" to her bedroom on the
second floor gave him his toys. and
went downstairs to care for her eight
months-old child. who was crying in it's
crib i'm the dininC-roorn for the lack OF
company and the amusement which ba-
biss demand.
Took Dnby in Arms.
Mrs. Speliman recalls that she took the
baby in her arms and was grooming IL
10 sleep. while her other children were
playing I'm the parlor when there was the
scream Of a child i'm agony. The mother
remembers little after that.
She dropped the baby I'm its crib and
ran upstairs Through narrow hallway
and into the bedroom. where she left
Bob" ran the woman. and the sight
which met her eyes sent a thrill OF hor-
ror through her heart.
There on the floor. twisting and strug-
Cling I'm agony rolled her boy. his clothes
blazing and filing the room with flame
and smoke lie saw his mother. and
cried.
''NIoler mother"
Mrs. Spcuman forgot herself I'm her
own and her baby's suffering. There were
blankets and rugs i'm the room. with
which she might have smothered the
flames. but she did not think Of them
Barehandcd and frantic she grabbed the
iuz body to her face and body, trying
60 stay the flames with her hands she
beat the fire and tore the smoking cloth
ing from the body, and when the last
spark was out she placed the baby on a
bed Then she tainted.
The other children had run into the
street and called Walter Gross. a neigh
bor. who reached the bedroom just as
the mother collapsed. He sent the oldest
child, n boy Of ten years. for DR.. NJ. J.
Reedy and then devoted his attention 10
rcviving the mother. Gross did not know
what 20 90 10 stop the screams OF the
suffering baby His one thought was to
restore the mother to consciousness, that
she might aid MIN with a suggestion.
Dr. Reedy was not long in reaching the
N'ANFs " Iifl nc AldtANfA at httt bli0tfif GU
scared. and hlackened form OF Robert he
shook his head The physician tried to
alleviate the suffering Of the baby with
the means ut hand, and when he had
done all he could he wrapped the boy IN
q blanket gave him to Gross. and said:
Run to the hospital as soon as you
can get there"
Gross did not need suggestion 20
hurry He was almost exhausted when
no staggered into Georgetown Hospital
with the bundle I'm his arms. DR. Reedy
stayed at the Spellman home % care for
the mother who appeared to be IN a
critical condition. The burns she received
may be fatal II is said. and. I'm addition
20 her injuries. she IS suffering from
nervous prostration.
No Chance for Life.
Physicians at the hospital knew there
was little chance for the boy as soon as
they examined the burns. Lotions were
applied to the body with cotton. and the
little form was wrapped in bandages
from head to foot. The child was un-
conscious and IN a dying condition when
tho physicians began TO work on him
His chest was burned 10 the bone: his
arms hands. and face were charred and
blistered. and his tongue was red and
swollen. showing he had swallowed flame
At O'Clock Robert died
The news Of her sons death had not
been told TO Mrs. Spellman for fear the
shock might be too great in her weakened
condition.
It Is believed the boy found box OF
matches and accidentally lighted one, set
ting FIRE 20 his clothing. On the floor
near the spot where the child was found
were several matches arranged in the
crude outlines OF animals
uatto- declines Coxer,o~.r,tr