The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1921-04-14

employed by the Liberal Auto Sup
ply Company, received burns from
which he died a few hours later, Fri
day morning.
Youny Stith was pumping air into
a pressure tank, which was used in
heating the water still, used in the
battery room, when the hose became
disconnected from the tank. Mixed
air and gas sprayed from the pipe
from which the connection slipped
This ignited, exactly how no one
knows. Some think there was fire
in the stove, others being of the op-
inin that a blow torch was burning
on the work bench. However, the
blaze was carried to the tank which
exploded, throwing burning gasoline
all over the Building which was
transformed into seething furnace.
AS the hose slipped from the con-
nection Stith was sprayed with the
vaporized gasoline, and in twink
ling was mass of flames. He start
ed to run from the building, but
when within about ten feet from the
west door he fell, overcome by the
flames. w. L. Kidd battery man
with the company was in the battery
room with Stith and he also ran
from the building. Seeing Stith fall
he attempted to help him, but the
flames had proved too much for him
and he was unable to get the young
man out of the building. Chas. Lusk
was working in another part of the
building and he and Rev. Penning-
ton who was attracted by the fire,
carried Stith from the burning build
ing.
Stith was terribly burned, prctic-
ally all his clothing but his shoes hav,
ing been burned from his body, and
those who saw him after he was ta-
ken out realized that he was so badly
burned that he could not recover.
A physician was summoned and ne
was taken In the ambulance to To-
cal hospital, where everything possi-
BILE was done to relieve his suffering
hut be died a few hours later.
He exhibited great fortitude after
the accident, and while awaiting the
arrival of the physician made little
complaint while he must have suffer-
ed terribly. He never lost conscious
ness until a few minutes before ne
passed away.
The terrible accident caused the
property side of the accident to be
overlooked and the time the fire de-
partment arrived the building had
been greatly damaged, and the con-
tents a mass of ruins. The loss be-
ing estimated at around $4,000.
Manager Trindle of the Liberal
Auto Supply Company carried in
demnity insurance on Stith, and
while the amount has not been de-
Htermined, we are informed that it
will run close to $4,000.
While Liberal has had many fires
with severe property loss, this is the
first one in recent years which has
cost life, and is considered one OF
the most disastrous in the history Of
the city.
Stith has worked for the Liberal
Auto Supply Company for five years
and was a faithful workman enjoy
ing the esteem Of his fellowmen and
his employer. Shortly after the acci-
dent which cost him his life we heard
a business man say regarding him: I:
"He was clean boy, as straight as
they make them" and this was the
impression he created during his life
here.
TIL funeral services were held at
the Christian church Sunday after
noon, conducted by the pastor, the
National Guard Company Of which
he was member, assisting. The
church was filled to capacity by
friends Of the deceased and his FAM
lily and beautiful flowers were
strongly in evidence.
Obituary
Samuel Emmitt Stith was born In