The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-25
Mrs. John Long Dead-Result Of
Coal Tar Explosion.
Her Baby and Samuel Long in
Critical Condition.
CLOTHING BURNED OFF
Skin Fell From BOdy-Husband
Badly Burned.
Fire Occurred at Home on North
Side.

Mrs. John Long. who was fatally
burned by an explosion of coal tar at
her home. COS Van Buren, street, about
4:3O O'Clock Monday afternoon, died at
Keith's hospital at 1920 o'clock last
night. Her husband and 6-months-old
baby boy and brother-in-law, Samuel
Long, who were also burned. are in a
critical condition at the hospital. Sam
ueI Long, who is an old man. may die
from the shock. John Long and the
baby will probably recover.
The older man inhaled flames and
was burned about the face and hands
He slipped and fell in the burning tar,
which had overturned on the floor. His
Drotner' as soon as the tar burst into
flames. snatched the baby from a cot
nearby on which it was lying and
jumped through the window. He was
burned about the face and hands, but
probably saved the infants life. It was
burned on the head. The furniture was
also much damaged.
John and Samuel Long, who are
painters by trade, were boiling a kettle
or coal tar on the stove in the kitchen.
IT boiled over, and in the attempt to
iitt It or, 1t was upset and spilled on
the floor. An explosion followed and a
sheet of flame filed the room This set
fire to the clothing of Mrs. Long who
was sitting at a sewing machine near
the stove She ran out doors. with
her clothing on fire. Her mother-in-
law, Mrs. Elizabeth Long. escaped
without injury and followed She
smothered the flames on the dress If
the other woman but not until the
clothing was nearly burned off and Mrs.
Long, jr., was burned from head 10
foot
The latter was carried to a house
nearby. where her skin fell off in large
pieces. Her hair also fell from her
head. Meanwhile the little baby, who
was also taken to the house nnoaned
| piteously. The firemen from station
No. 1. who had arrived on the scene by
| this time and had put out the fire in
the kitchen, did what they could with
the assistance of the neighbors to re-
heve the sufferings of the injured peo-
| pie.
| DR.. Keith was called and took them
| to the hospital. He said that there
was not enough skin on the body of the
| burned woman to make a hypodernic
| injection to relieve her suffering She
was unconscious when she reached the
! hospital and remained so while she
lived. He also stated that John Long
| and the baby had a good show of re-
\ eovery.
Before the arrival of the hospital
| ambulance, the husband paced up and
down in the yard. suffering intensely
but he did not utter a groan.
Go in the house, where the cold air
viii not strike your burns" he was told
| "Oh. can't stand it in there he re-
piled as he resumed his nervous strida
| The Longs came here from Leaven-
worth short time ago They are not
well known on the North side
| Arrangements for the funeral of
Mrs. John Long are awaiting the ar
| rival of relatives from st. Joe. They
are expected here today The dead
woman leave two sons in st. Joe,
Strauder Long and Isaac Long. Her
baby will probably be cared for by
Mr.. and Mrs. Clay Long of 1922 North
Kansas avenue. Clay Long is broth
er of Samuel Long, who was so badly
burned and shocked by the fire that
his recovery is not probable. He is
| about 20 years old. He has brothers
| Samuel and Sherman Long, in st. Joe
also three daughters, Mrs. Amanda
Allendorf and Mrs. Bertha Young and
Miss Maggie Long Of Topeka. Mrs
! Allendorf runs q restaurant at Curtis
| street and Kansas avenue,