Evening journal., 1914-02-05
PARALYzED
man MAY BE
FIRE VICTIM
Christopher Cole, Helpless,
Badly Burned by Blaze He
Accidentally Starts
DAUGHTER BURNED
In RESCUE. ATTEMPT

Christopher Cole, aged 20 years,
no had been partially paralyzed for
more than three years, met with a
pathetic accident in his home at No
2o4 East Fifth street about five
o'clock yesterday afternoon, which
may result in his death. The aged
man, who on account OF his affiiction
was unable to save himself, and un-
able even TO call for help owing to
the fact that the paralysis extended
TO his vocal cords, was perhaps ia
tally burned when the mating on the
floor Of the room in which he was
sitting was gnited from a match he
had thrown away after lighting a ci-
gar. He was removed to the Homeo-
pathic Hospital where it was stated
this morning that he is very weak
and his condition critical. In addi-
ton 70 the bad burns the mans age
and previous affiiction will tell heav-
ily against him. The hospital author
tiles declared be had very little
chance of recovery. Mrs Robert C..
Porter. daughter of the aged man.
was badly burned about the hands
while trying to save him.
Cole has to be lifted from bed TO a
chair and spends his time sitting by the
window in the second-story rear room OF
his home. he was permitted tc smoke
because Il afforded him his only recrea-
tion. lie was able to help himself TO
this extent with his left hand. he was
alone i'm his room yesterday afternoon
about > O'Clock and had been sinaking a
cigar. When he finished :, ne lignted
another.
On the window sin he had 3. 3oS into
which he tossed the matches md dsrcs.
After lighting The second ,ig1r Dec threw
. the match with bis left hand iowar tic
box ls tell short and dropped on the
mating on the io0r This was ienitfd
and the flames spread go ihe quilts,
which had been wrapped ab3ug the eyed
mans legs.
The unfortunate part oi the accident
is due 60 the fact that Cole. being par
alrzcd om theriuht side. did not feel tine
blaze until be- was badly burned and tho
flesh on that side ot his body bad Deen
badly eaten by Tie 1ahmes. The fire
communicated Go the clothing ON -la
right side and the flesh on his right
land. arm. side and leg were burning for
some time before he knew aynthing
about IL. lt was only when the heat
began TO scar the u "a on the side OF his
body where tlc nerves are intact and hc
noted the spoke from the flames that
ne discovered the flames. iiy that time
the fire on hi- cioniug had spread to the
parts OF his body where he could feel u.
The aged man. trapped as he was,
and unable 20 call for help, made a
desperate EFFORT 20 escape. He sue
ceeded in getting upon his Rect, but
was unable &, stand. and plunged
headlong to tie fiOor. his mead going
under the bed. IN this condition he
was compelled 20 remain, While The
flames continued 20 spread through
his clothing rnd scOrch and gear his
flesh. Robert = Porter. sOu-in-iaW
of Tie aged man who is O former
chief OF tho fIc department who
lives r. the house where he has been
confined for some time with -he grip,
was downstairs when the accident &C.
Cured and ho heard the aged mans
gIoans, but believed they wcrc COM
ing from the house of noighhor
waere there is sickness Smelling
the odor OF burning flesh, he went inte
the back yard 10 investigate and
then tod Mrs. orter that she mad
better 60 upstairs and see il her
father was all right
When Mrs. Porter went TO the room
she found the place in flames and leg
father lying IN the r1or partly under
the bed. The hre had burned the
clothing from his side and BACK and
was burning about his atck Catching
up a rug from the fiCog. she succeed
ed in extinguishing the flames. but IN
doing so was so badly burned about
the hands thai Dr. II. G BuckmasieT
had to be called 20 dress the wounds