The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1917-01-25
W. |. CIBONEYS.
WIFE SERIOUSLY
BY OIL.
Gasoline ExplOdes as She
Attempts to Build Fire
For Neighbors.
INHALES FLAME AS
SHE RUNS FOR AID
Physician Fears She May Not
Recover From BurnS-NOw
at Hospital.

Mrs. W. L. Giboney of zoos William
street, was perhaps fatally burned
yesterday morning at the home of A.
L. Mabrey, $50 William street, when
a gasoline can, from which she was
pouring the contents in the kitchen
range, exploded. Celeste Mabrey. who
is II years old, is also suffering from
burns on her forehead. She was stand
! ing near the stove when the explosion
occurred.
Mrs. Giboney ran screaming through
the house to the bedroom of Miss
Marie Mabrey, who has been i'll with
tonsilitis. The sick girl jumped from
her bed and threw a quilt around the
| burning woman, smothering the
flames. She was burned about the up
per part of her body.
The explosion was so terrific that it
was heard for a block and neighbors
fastened to the burning house Mrs.
Herman Jones, who lives next door
to the Mabrey home, hurried to the
house when she saw the smoke issuing
from the rear door, and extinguished
the fire with a bucket Of water. The
curtains in the kitchen were ignited by
the explosion and The window sill vas
slightly damaged, but the flames were
extinguished before they could gain
any headway.
Mrs. Giboney was assisted to her
home by Mrs. Jones, and a physician
was called Immediately. Later in the
afternoon her condition became so
grave that she had to be taken to
the st. Francis Hospital, where she
is in precarious condition. Mrs.
Giboney inhaled the flames as she ran
through the house, and her lungs are
badly injured.
Mrs. Giboney had gone to the Ma ,
brey home to take Miss Mabrey a /
luncheon as the latter was unable to
I
confined to her bed. While Mrs. Glib /;
oney was talking 10 the sick girl, Ce- |
leste, who has been caring for her /
sister, entered the room and asked |
Mrs. Giboney to help her kindle the
fire in the kitchen stove.
Mrs. Giboney followed the little
girl into the kitchen and picked up a
can which she thought contained coal
oil. The little girl called her atten-
tion to her mistake, but Mrs. Giboncy |
replied she was sure the can contained
coal oil, and proceeded to pour the
liquid on the fire. She had hardly
opened the can to pour the contents
on the smoldering coal when the
liquid exploded.
The contents of the can was hurled
all over Mrs. Giboney and also on the
little girl who was standing near the
stove. The screams of both, coupled
with the sound of the explosion, at
tracted the neighborS of the entire
block. They ran to the house, where
they found Mrs. Giboney on the sick
girls bed, almost engulfed in flames. !
After they had been extinguished she
was escorted home.
The physician who was called ap-
piled soothing remedies in order to re-
lieve the pain. He found that she had
inhaled the flames and had suffered |
such injuries to her respiratory or
gans that might cause her death. La
ter in the afternoon the doctor found
it necessary to remove his patient to
the hospital.
Little Celeste'S burns were dressed
by the physician, but they are only of
a slight nature. Her hair was singed
slightly. The little girl was cared for
by Joe Price, who, in company with
Howard Frissell, passed the house
when the explosion occurred.
Miss Marie has been keeping house
for her father since the death Of her
mother last September. She has been
bedridden for week and during her
illness Mrs. Giboney has helped
around the Mabrey home. She went
there yesterday morning to bring Miss
Mabrey bowl Of soup.
Mr.. Giboney was called home from
his work after the explosion. After q
consultation with the physician he con-
sented to have his wife removed to the
hospital. The couple have two chill |,
dren.