Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-11-05
DRESS AF|RE, SHE
IS RESCUED BY
OCTOGENAR|ANS
Aged Mrs. Decker
Vainly Leaps Into
Bathtub.
NEIGHBORS SMOTHER
FLAMES WITH COATS
Victim of Blaze Paralyzed by
Shock and Her Life De-
SPARED of at Hospital.

Aged Mr.. and Mrs. Fred Kesler,
81 and 81 years old, respectively. made
heroic but probably Intellectual ef-
fort to save the life OF a neighbor,
Mrs. Mary Decker. whose dress
caught fire at her home, 157 Astor
street, today
When Mr.. and Mrs. Kesler an
swered the screams of Mrs. Decker
they found her In the bathtub enve-
lcped in flames, with a puny stream
that was all to light to aid in extin-
kuishing the fire, issuing from the
faucets.
The Keslers smothered the flames
but according to the surgeons al
the City Hospital where Mrs
Decker was taken the aged woman
will probably die.
Mrs. Decker was seated at the
breakfast table in the alcove room
she occupies when she felt tick
lish sensation at her lower limbs.
Pays No Attention to 1t.
\ nc d6Cu WokHdu pd1u uO dLtcutioh
to this until suddenly her legs be-
came uncomfortably warm. Hastily
arising from the table Mrs. Decker
screamed In fright when she saw
that the thin skirt she was wearing
was in flames.
Bending over Mrs. Decker tried in
effectually to beat out the flames with
her hands. Then, shouting with pain,
as the flames licked UP about her
body, she rushed to the bathroom.
Turning both faucets on full she
climbed into the tub. The water rose
very slowly, sizzling and steaming as
1t came in contact with the flames.
Mrs. Decker was still screaming.
wildly tearing at her skirt.
Her cries attracted the attention of
Mr.. and Mrs. Kesler, who occupy two
rooms at the rear OF Mrs. Decker'a
apartment, which is on the second
floor. When they arrived at the bath
room the flames were rising high
from the tub, and Mrs Decker's body
was hidden in the column Of fire and
smoke
Kesler wore his overcoat. for he
was about to leave the house when
he heard the woman scream. This
ne stripped off and flung over Mrs.
Decker as she lay in the tub. Mrs.
Kesler seized a bath mat, several
towels and a rug and Wrapped these
about Mrs. Decker's form. Between
them the Keslers managed to
smother the flames.
She Lies In Tsb Unconscious.
Mrs Decker lay In the tub uncon-
scious Here and there her dress
was burned slightly. The tub into
which the water had been pouring
all this time was now quite full,
and Mr. and Mrs. Kesler rolled the
aged woman over and held her body
under the water to make certain
that all the fire should be extin-
guished.
Then they carried her into her room
and placed her on the bed Mrs. Kes-
Ter endeavored to alleviate the pain
which Mrs. Decker was suffering.
while her husband summoned an am
bulance from the City Hospital. When
she arrived at the institution the
surgeons found that there was
scarcely a bit of flesh on her body
that was not terribly blistered and
scorched.
Although Mrs. Decker has regained
consciousness at intervals since COM
ing to the hospital. she appeared to
be suffering no pain. From this fact
the physicians are led to believe that
the shock she suffered has resulted in
temporary paralysis. Mrs. Decker
is not expected to live
Mrs. Decker's skirts caught fire
from a gas stove. After cooking her
breakfast on this she placed 1t on
the floor and laid the oven on top to
warm the room. 1t is believed that
her thin dress passed over the flames
as she walked by.
Mrs. Decker lived alone. Her
daughter, Mrs. Mary Sharp, resides
at 81 Hecker street.