The Monroe journal. [volume] (Monroe, N.C.) 189?-1965, 1911-03-28
WOMEN BURNED TO DEATH.
Miss Davis and Miss Baucom Vic
Tins Of Lamp Explosion.

INNS Oh Lamp Explosion.
Preparing TO 20 home from Quilt
ing Party, Young Ladies of New
Salem Township Are Horribly
Burned and Two OF Them Die
Next forming One Of the flost
Distressing Tragedies that Ever
Occurred in the County-Daugh-
tiers of Rev. A. c. Davis and Ex-
County Commissioner Baucom.
Miss Wilma Davis, daughter Of
Rev. A. c. Davis, and Miss Grace
Baucom, daughter of Ex- County
Commissioner II. t. Baucom, died
horrible deaths last Friday morning
from burns received by lamp ex.
plosion the evening before. Miss
Lou Baucom, daughter Of Mr.. Riley
Baucom and cousin OF Miss Grace
,-,aucom, was also badly burned, but
will recover. The tragedy is one OF
the most distressing things that has
ever occurred in the county.
The young ladies had attended a
quilting party at the home Of Mr..
G. 4. Pritchard, one mile from Olive
Branch, where they both live, and
had gone to a room TO prepare to
leave for home. 1t was growing
dark and a lamp had been lighted.
The girls were close together near a
mirror arranging their hair, Miss
Grace Baucom took the lamp in
hand to move it, when without any
known cause, a terrific explosion
took place and the oil and flames
wrapped their victims in their hor-
rible folds in the twinkling Of an
eye. Their screams brought instant
help but it was Of no avail, so quick
and fatal was the work Of death.
Mr.. Pritchard and Edgar Baucom
we're themselves badly burned in
their efforts to put out the flames,
which were quickly subdued, but
not till they had done their cruel
work. The bodies were burned over
much of the surface and much Of
the fame must have been inhaled.
DR.. Brooks, the nearest physician,
arrived in perhaps twenty minutes
and did all he could, but the young
women fingered in agony till the
next morning, when Miss Davis died
about s o'clock and Miss Baucom
twenty minutes later. Miss Davis
said TO the attendants that she felt
sure that she would get well, and
cautioned them to do all they could
for her companion, as she was afraid
she would not get well. Thus there
was great surprise when Miss Davis
died first, as she seemed not TO be
suffering as much as Miss Baueom
The bodies were buried at Olive
Branch Saturday afternoon, Rev. G..
o. Without Of Ansonville conducting
, the service. An immense number
of friends and sympathizers gather
ed to pay their respects and sym
pathy.
Miss Wilma Davis was "A years
old and, as said above, was the
| daughter of Rev. A. c. Davis, well
known Baptist minister Of the coun-
ty. She was a member OF the Rap
, fist church, and held in highest es-
TEEN by mary friends and the who G
community.
Miss Grace Bducom was 20 years
old last January. She was the daugh-
2 ter Of Squire Ii. 1 Baucom, one Of
. the best citizens OF the county, and
5 lately useful member Of the county
: board Of commissioners. She had
been member Of the Baptist church
for five years and was teacher in
5 the Sunday school. She was half
sister Of Mrs. J. w Fowler Of Mon
roe and Of Mrs. ] t. Fowler Of this
5 township. She was a popular and
: beloved member Ct her community
Miss Lou Baucom, while badly
burned, will recover. The commu-
. nifty nor the county has never had
: onv mora obnaEi,,, ,,pttrrnnaa