Smyrna times., 1910-09-21
EXPLOSION ENDS FATALLY
FOR M|DDLETOWN FARMER
CHARLES MULLIN A RESPECTED
FARMER VICTIM OF ACCIDENT

CHARLES MULLlN A RESPECTED
FARMER VICTIM OF ACCIDENT
Was Returning Home With a Can of
B-Sulphde of Carbon When Ex-
pIosion Occurred
Tuesday afternoon about 4 o. clock,
Middletown was shocked by the news
that Mr.. Charles Mullin, one of
Middletown's most prosperous and
highly esteemed farmers had been
badly-if not fatally-burned by bi.
sulphide of carbon, while driving to
his home near Mount Pleasant. Mr..
Mullin had been to Middletown and |
purchased three cans of the fluid and |
was on his way home when the pc
culiar accident happened Immediate
ly opposite the Forest cemetery.
Just how the accident happened will
probably never be, known, but it is
supposed that one of the cans was
leeking, and was ignited by a
spark from cigar which the unfor-
tuna man was smoking. Mr.. Null
lin lived on a farm owned by Miss
Elizabeth Bowman, of Wilmington.
Tuesday afternoon he drove to Mid
dletown in covered buggy to get
some bi-sulphide of carbon which is
used by farmers to put in wheat to
keep weevil out. 1t is a very
dangerous fluid and Mr.. Mullin was
warned to be careful upon receiving
the cans. Near the cemetery loud
! explosion was heard by several
persons and it was noticed that the
carriage was ablaze and the horse
running away. Two colored men at
work in the cemetery ran forward
and caught the horse and rendered
all the assistance in their power.
He was lifted from the vehicle by
some men in an automobile and DR..
Dorsey W. Lewis quickly summoned
who removed the unfortunate man
to his home. Little hope was enter
tanned of his recovery so badly was
he burned about his whole body, his
clothes being burned from his person
and the flesh in some places burned
to crisp. 1t was a pitiful sight
DR.. Lewis after wrapping the suffer
ing man in sheets, had him removed
to his home, where he died about
eight o'clock that evening, surround
ed by his family. Too much cannot
be said Of Mr.. Mullin. He was one
of those men everybody liked, q
man whose life was honest and up
right in all his dealings, a good
prosperous farmer, and was one Of
the most popular citizens in tn,
, neighborhood. He was aged 73 years
and leaves a devoted wife and sever
children to mourn his sad death. Th
children are, James A, Margaret
Frank, Charles, John, Catharin
and Pose. His funeral took plac
e Friday morning at 10 o'clock, ser
vices being held in st. Joseph's Re
e man Catholic Church, Middletown
# interment at Bohemia cemetery.
l. The Cecil County News gives thi
: verson of the accident: "Tuesda
J. afternoon as W. T. Vinsinger, Her
J. ry Vinsinger, Jacob Biddle an
!; Sheriff McAllister were returnin
n from John Piser's sale in Mr.. Vir
?. singers auto they noticed some burr
,e ing substance dropping from bugg
lie on the road in front of them. A
7. they drew near the buggy burst I'M
re flames. The driver tried to aligh
ut but slipped and fell, the horse rui
e, ming away with the blazing vehicl'
3. Sheriff McAlister ran to the driver
!. assistance and found his clothing
m flames and almost burned off hin
ne By rolling him into the road he su
I'd ceeded in extinguishing the fire bl
le not until the old man, who said /
en was Mr.. Mullin, of st. George
IL Del, had been frightfully burne
ty Mr.. Vansinger ran his car into Mi
al detown and brought DR.. Lewis, w
ut attended the injured man. +
Mt horse was caught by colored ma
RS but the buggy was destroyed. T
at Elktonians could not learn what t
mt burning material was. The accide
re occurred near Forest cemetery, iu
ny this side of Middletown.