Norwich bulletin., 1915-03-26
LOADED STICK OF WOOD
 EXPLODED IN STOVE.
Mrs. John w. Bamford Badly Hurt by : Flying lron-Police Investigating.

The explosion of a heavily loaded stick Of hrewood which had been placed in the kitchen range at the residence of MT. and Mrs. John W. Bamford, No. Is Grosvenor place, blew the stove to pieces shortly after 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon and seriously burned Mrs. Bamford, who was standing near by at the time.
 The stick of wood, which was about foot long and several inches in thick ness, was found in the yard, almost in front Of the kitchen door. early Thurs day morning by MT. Bamford and it was placed on the piazza, where it re- mained throughout the morning. MT, Bamford thought the stick had been thrown into the yard by some careless person, but 1t is now thought possible that 1t was carefully placed in position over night in line with the rear door of his house so that it would be noticed and picked up and subsequently, placed in the stove.
 Stove Completely Shattered. A little after o'clock in the after noon Mrs. Bamford placed the stick in the firebox. Within a short time there was terrific explosion and pieces of the stove were blown in all directions, Mrs. Bamford was standing at the left Of the stove, near a gas range, and directly in front of the firebox of the stove, and her escape from fatal injury IS no doubt due to the fact that the hot water front in the stove shielded her from the flying pieces. She was, however, severely burned about the face, head and arms. Her hair was set on fire but she had the presence of mind to throw her apron over her head and extinguish the fire before it had a chance to blaze up. With the excep- tion of the base, the stove was com pletely demolished. Some of the pieces struck the ceiling, causing the plaster to fall and leaving a large hole. An otEer piece was blown clear through the kitchen into the dining room and landed against the dining room stove. Other pieces struck the walls, doors and cupboards in the kitchen, making large dents in the woodwork
 Windows Blown Out.
 The window frames and glass on the west side of the kitchen were blown out by the force of the explosion and the flying embers set fire to the table cloth on a nearby table. Mrs. Bamford got. out of the wreck as soon as she could and ran out of the house into the yard, where she met a man named 'Sptvery who was in neighboring yard at the time and who was on his way to the. house, having heard the explosion and seen the flying glass and window frames. Other neighbors hurried to the house and rendered what assist ance they were able, and Dr. Clinton B. Stark was called to attend to Mrs. Bamford's burns.
 MT. Bamford, who Is an overseer in the Falls mills, was notified of the ex- plosion by telephone and he also hur- ried to the house.
 After the explosion a piece of iron tube about six inches long and one inch in diameter was found in the debris, and it is supposed that the explosive, whether gun powder or dynamite, had been packed into this tube and the tube carefully placed in the stick of wood. Police Take Iron Tube.
 The iron tube has been taken in charge by the police, who are working OF the case, as it is believed to be the work of some niscreant, Mr. Bamford does not think that the person respon- sible for the explosion had any par ticular designs upon himself or his family, as he has no enemies. The loss on the stove is total and the furniture was considerably damaged. There is no insurance on the furniture.