The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-12-24

DOVER, Eng, Dec. 24.-con-
sternation was caused here today
by a German air-man who fled
after dropping one bomb. The
bomb had evidently been aimed at
Dover Castle. 1t exploded 400
yards from the castle. Fragments
broke many windows, but no one
was injured.
The bed which comforted her suffer
lngs incident to the infirmities of ad-
vanced age late yesterday afternoon
proved to be the rack of torture and
the funeral pyre of Mrs. Mary Jane
Rife, agc1 SO. living at 12O North Sec
ond street, while she was alone at the
home OF her son, Peter Rife, with
whom she resided. She slowly cooked
to death for nearly a half hour before
discovered and died at 80 O'Clock
last night at Reid hospital No victim
Of the Spanish inquisition ever met
death with more agony than Mrs. Rife
Besides her son she is survived by her
daughter, Mrs. A. B. Parks, wife of the
former trustee OF Boston township.
Fire Carries Torture.
When Mrs. Peter Rife left the house
YESTERDAY, the aged woman locked the
&
to warm herself. In some way her
clothing caught afire and she hObbled
to her bed intent on smothering out
the flames with the bedclOthing. But
her efforts were fruitless and the fire
spread to the bedclothing and the
feather tick. In a minute she was be-
ing roasted alive. This pitiful tragedy
she related with difficulty to phySi-
oil hnt fin 11,r
reached her side She had inhaled the
flames and it was almost impossible
for her to talk. 1t was realized at once
that there was no chance for her re-
covery and large doses of morphine
were given her to relieve her eXcruCi-
ating agony.
Although the unfortunate woman's
garments, the bedclothing and part OF
the feather tick were burned to ashes
the dwelling, which sheltered three
families, was not damaged, the flames
not spreading to the walls, flooring or
ceiling.
Flesh Drops From Body.
City Physician Huffman said that he
had never seen any person so hOrri-
bly, burned as Mrs. Rife. Her flesh
from her ankles to the top of her fore
head was charred to a depth of a quar-
ter of an inch Much of this burned
flesh fell from her body when she was
removed to an ambulance. Long strips
of skin hung from her hands. She was
in conscious state until opiates were
given her.
A little after o'clock yesterday af
ternoon Mrs. KRONER. a neighbor. saw
smoke issuing from the Rife home and
no no Of nf ~ q
messenger boy. Richard Thomas, tC
this. He tried to enter the various
doors but found them locked so he
Entering the house he was almost
overcome with smoke but he heard
Mrs Rife moaning and caught q
glimpse of her in bed surrounded b.
walls of fire. Mortified the boy left the
house, called for help and sent in the
fire alarm. The companies responded
promptly and firemen soon had the
flaming bed extinguished. Members
of the family telephoned to three OF
four physicians without getting any
response then Officer Wenger sum
moned City Physician Huffman, who
responded promptly.
Recalls Lipscomb Death.
"In such emergency cases. DR.
Huffman said today, 'One of the two
city physicians should be summoned
at once If the family summons its
own physician, then he can take over
the case upon his arrival. The delay
in securing a physician yesterday was
not fatal because Mrs. Rife was toe
badly burned to recover, but her ag
ony was prolonged that much longer
Similar delays in other cases might
prevent the saving Of the victims
life
1t was year ago yesterday thai
Charles Lipscomb YVES fatally burned
| in a tank at the Standard Oil plan
when an explosion occurred while he
was cleaning it.