The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-12-20
EXPLOSION
IN A Home
Followed By Fire Seriously
Burned Three Persons
And Il Is Possible That Burns
May Prove Fatal
Mrs. Elizabeth Owen And
Children Were The Victims
Of Most Distressing Accident
Wednesday Morning
When Gas From A Rubber
Hose Became Ignited
Daughter Ran Into Street
With Clothing Blazing
Fire Department Called To
The Scene Of The Disaster
When Gas From A Rubber
Hose Became Ignited
Daughter Ran Into Street
With Clothing Blazing
Fire Department Called To
The Scene Of The Disaster

Mrs. Elizabeth Owen, her daughter
1ernice Owen, and an infant daughter
were very seriously burned In an ex
plosion Of gas at their home, 1902 North
Norton street, early Wednesday
morning. They are at the Mt. Vernon
hospital and there Is possibility that
the burns will prove fatal.
The explosion occurred In an up.
stairs room OF the house and was the
result Of leaking gas.
The cause of the explosion is not
positively known, although the suppo,
sition Is that the gas was ignited by
light in the upstairs hail. The room
: in which the explosion took place is
heated by stove connected with a
gas jet by means of a small rubber
hose. This hose became loosened
during the night and the room filed
with gas. There was no fire in the
room, either Tor heat or light, but u
iot was burning in the hall adjoining.
This is the only explanation that is
given of the cause.
Shortly after two o'clock Wednes,
MOI ming, Miss Bernice, who was
sleeping in the room with the infant
child, called her mother, who sleeps
in an adjoining room, and told her
that there was something wrong with
the. baby. According to the report,
Mrs. Owen fastened into the dark
room, but had just stepped inside
when there came a fash and loud
explosion. The windows We're blown
out and the door into the hall was
slammed shut with great force. A
number OF articles in the room were
set oniire and soon were burning
briskly. Mrs. owen, Bernice and the
baby were badly burned and dazed.
Mrs. Owen was first to regain COM
posure and ran to the closed door, but
her attempts to open it failed 1t had
been hurled shut with such force by
the explosion that it had become
jammed and stuck fast. Frantic cries
awOke Harry Owen, son, who was
sleeping down stairs and he fastened
to their rescue. After a number Of
efforts he succeeded in forcing the
door open and saved those inside from
being burned to death. After assur-
ing himself that they were safe.
Harry began to fight the fire and had
1t fairly well under control when the
fire department arrived on the scene.
When they We're released from the
burning room. Mrs. Owen and the
baby were safe from further immedi-
ate harm, but Bernice's clothing was
blazing and she rushed down stairs
and into the street. Seeing Mrs.
Rockwell standing in front of her
home across the street, she rushed
across to her and the blazing gar
ment was quickly torn of. She was
very badly burned about the body and
on the feet.
Mrs. Owens face, hands, feet and
back were badly burned. The baby
was burned about the hands and feet
as well as on the body. The child
is about two months old.
The firemen soon had the fire under
control and believed after a time that
It was extinguished. They had left
the scene but a short time when the
flames broke out again. but were OK.
tinguished without trouble.
Considerable damage was done to
the property which Is owned by Mr..
Edward Hill.
Word from the hospital received
Wednesday afternoon was to the ef.
feet that all three are getting along
~ we'll ~ could be expected. although