The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-06-16


Mr.. and Mrs. Hurps run off the front
porch of their little dwelling. The
latter sank to the ground, while Mr.
Hurps, after agonizing pleas for helr
and with his hands held closely to his
head, finally toppled over backwards
The Rhoads boy went to Mrs
Hurps' aid first and, following the
instructions OF his father, pulled the
burning clothes off her body from the
throat down, beating at the flames all
of the time. He soon had these ex
tinguished but not before some ter.
rible burns had been inflicted on her
chest, her right side and back-burns
which covered great area and which
are regarded in the light of being
very serious.
Mr.. and Mrs. Rhoads went to the
aid of Mr.. Hurps. The latter seemed
dazed and bewildered, shaking him
self free from them, arising and
walking about as if out of his head.
He asked about his wife and repeat.
ed constantly that he was perfectly
uinjured, although his face, which
was blistered almost beyond recogni-
ton and his hair, which was burned
away in several places and badly
singed, belied this statement.
The ambulance and physician calls
were put in while Mrs. Hurps' mother,
Mrs. Sidney Lewis, west of the city,
was also summoned. A little two
year-old child, Harold, escaped with
out a burn and he was placed in the
hands Of Mrs. Lewis.
AS near as could be learned by the
Rhoads family and other neighbors
who gathered very quickly, Mr. Hurps
had arrived home from his work at
the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co. but a
few minutes before the explosion
came. His wife, on the other hand
had just returned from attending
Coop and Lent's circus, to which she
SOOHh NhSli httlC 5Ous
Several days ago wagon, driven
by A. B. Jones of Mt. Vernon, passed
over the gas regulator in the Hurps
yard, breaking it and causing a leak
age of gas. When Mr.. Hurps return.
ed Tuesday evening, he started to in.
vestigate and proceeded down into
the cellar by door which opens from
the front porch of the house. His
wife, at the time, was busy preparing
potatoes for their evening meal.
Stories conflict as to how her clothing
became ignited, but the most reason.
able has it that she ran out on the
porch when the first explosion came
and was standing near the door when
the second blast occurred, the flames
of which caught her clothes.
Albeit, her husband was blown out
of the cellar into the front yard by
the force of the explosion. The roof
of the porch was scorched by the
flames which swept out of the cellar
door. The wall paper on the inside of
the house was blown off the wall. the
window curtains were swept down.
while rug was tossed over into
corner. For some reason, the flames
were not able to catch the house or
any infiammable material therein or
else it would have been wiped out,
as 1t Is a low, one-story structure
built Of wood which would burn like
tinder.
The first thought Mr.. Hurps had
was for his wife's safety and he,
though blinded and in terrible agony,
tried to make his way to her side,
but toppled over Just as the Rhoads
family arrived. Both Mr.. and Mrs.
Hurps were lying in the garden at
that time, about Is feet apart.
A cap Mr.. Hurps was wearing was
completely charred by the blast of
gas, both inside and out. His burns
were confined entirely to his face and
hands, as an examination at the hos
pital disclosed. Both hands were burn
ed to the depth Of one-eighth of an
inch and the skin had to be removed
In many spots.
Mr.. and Mrs. Hurps are % and 20
years old, respectively. They have
been married only about three years
and have resided in their little Yer.
home for that length of
time. They have the reputation
among neighbors of being a particu-
larly happy couple and the tragedy of
night excited many express
sions of pity and sympathy.
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Hurps suffered Sc
we're pain and put in an extremely
restless night On Wednesday, 1t was
stated at the hospital that their chanc-
es for recovery are about equal, but
their condition is so very serious that
the lives Of both are hanging in the
balance.