Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-22
GIRL FACES DEATH
RESULT Of BURNS
Miss Annie Donovan Is in Hos
pitaI Suffering Torture
From Flames.
HER HAIR SET ABLAZE
BY BATHROOM GAS JET
Mother and Half-Sister Are Also Sc.
riously Injured-Two Others
Slightly Burned.

Miss Annie Donovan OF W. l4th street
northwest is believed to be dying at
Emergency Hospital: her mother. Mrs.
j. H. Donovan, and her lf-sister Miss
Lizzie Murphy, are seriously burned.
and c. B. Roach of 1924 Sth street north
west and Policeman J. j. Broderick of
the eighth precinct have scorched hands
from a blaze in the Donovan home short
ly after 3 o'clock last night.
The three women were together in
the bathroom on the second floor of the
house when flame from a gas jet sud-
denly caught in Miss Donovans hair,
quickly spread to her clothing and in
an instant turned her into pillar of
flame. Mrs. Donovan and Miss Murphy
tried to save her, and in moment
their clothing, too, was on fire.
Hearing the frenzied screams of the
three women Mr.. Roach, who was
standing in front of the house. ran
followed by Policeman Broderick
Roach threw his coat about Miss Dono-
van, while Broderick beat out ths
flames enveloping the other women
Both men suffered severe burns. a
large crowd quickly gathered
An alarm was turned in and the en-
gines responded, but before their arrival
the flames had been extinguished. Little
damage was done to the house.
Miss Donovan Horribly Burned.
The skin was literally burned from Miss
Donovan's face and body, and hung from
her in shreds. She was hurried to an
automobile belonging to Harry Yetton OF
1910 8th street northwest and taken to
Emergency Hospital. All Of her clothing
was burned, and most of her hair was
singed from her head.
Suffering terrible pain, but still con-
sciouS, Miss Donovan was given treat
ment as soon as she arrived at the hos
pital. but physicians there said last night
she had small chance of recovery. Al
most every part of her body and face
showed the effects of the blaze.
Mrs. Donovan and Miss Murphy were
treated at the house by DR.. Harry Lewis
but later Mrs. Donovan went to Elmer
gency Hospital to be with her daughter
Mrs. Donovan's face suffered injury ant
Miss Murphy's right arm was burned
from wrist to shoulder.
| All three women were lightly dressed
Miss Donovan wearing a kimono. whel
| they went into the small bathroom to
getller. The gas jet is located about fiv'
| feet from the floor and near the door.
| Mrs. Donovan and Miss Murphy wer,
talking, Miss Donovan being behind them
when they suddenly heard her shriel
and turned to see her ablaze from head
to foot. Both jumped to her assistance
but they. too. We're soon enveloped iT
flames and ran screaming into the hall
way.
All Fighting the Flames.
When Roach heard the woman scream
ing he pushed open the front door and
ran upstairs. At the head CT the steps
oil Goh
the flames. He quickly pulled off his
coat, wrapped Miss Donovan in it, and
rolled her on the floor in an effort to
extinguish the blaze.
Policeman Broderfck was on duty at
14th and L streets and he made his way
into the house just behind Roach. He
fought the flames. Following him sew
eral other men ran to the assistance OF
the suffering women, ana shoru! idu
the fire eXtinguiShed.
Still carrying Miss Donovan wrapped
up in his coat, Roach ran down stairs
and sent her to the hospital in MT.
Yetton's automobile, in advance OF the
arrival of the ambulance. On the way
TO the hospital Miss Donovan continually
called for her mother. who followed
soon afterward in the ambulance.
Miss Donovan Is twentythree years old
and is said to be unusually prettS- IL
was reported among her TRENDS iasl
n;,,bt that she expected to be married IN
the near future, but her family refused to
discuss that report.
Mrs. Donovan Twice Married.
Mrs. Donovan has been married twice,
both her husbands being dead. She IS
the owner of a saloon which is located
on the first floor of her home and also
oups other Droperty,
Capt. Falvey of the 9Th police pre-
cinct arrived at the home soon after
the fire alarm and took command OF
the situation.
After seeing that the fire had been
ex4inguished Policeman Broderick re-
turned to the station house and sent
to police headquarters a brief report.
making no mention of his own bravery.