The Washington herald., 1921-01-30
Little Girls Burned While
Playing in Home at
Seat Pleasant.
FATE OF ANOTHER
~ CHILD IN BALANCE
Kerosene Can on Stove
Sends Spark Shower
Over Clothing.

Three children were burned to
~death and the life Of another hangs
n the balance as the result of a
koal oil explosion in the home OF
I.esIie r. watkins, Seat Pleasant,
Ad., about p. m yesterday.
The children were playing with
a can Of kerosene near a coal stove
One of the little ones, it is be-
Iisved. placed the innammable ma
teriaI on the stove. The explosion
that followed sent a shower OF
sparks over the clothing OF the
children
List Of CasuaItIek
Alice watkins, S years old
daughter Of Leslie R. Watkins. died
almost instantly. with the body
charred almost beyond recognition.
Mary Watkins, . years old, sis
ter, died in the Children's Hospital
at o'clock.
Ethel Roberts, s years old, daug-
ter OF James Roberts. a neighbor,
died in the Casualty Hospital at
1880 o'clock.
Seriously burned:
Earl Watkins, = years old, at the
Children's Hospital is not expected
to live. Burned about the head, face
and arms.
Less seriously burned:
Thelma Roberts, years old
burned about the face and given
local medical care: condition not
serious.
Frank Ward, 3s years old. who
of the watkins home, suffered
burns about the hands. He is con-
fined to his bed.
Tells of Experience.
Ward, a motorman, had been con-
fined to his home for the past week,
he stated last night, and was re-
clininE in his sitting room on the
first floor, whtlo the fye children
were playing in the front room
above
Mrs. Watkins had gone to a near
by store to make purchases for the
evening meal Her husband, a car
penter, was at work in Washing
ton.
The report Of the explosion
brought Ward to his feet, and he
rushed to the room where the chill
dren had been playing. He found
that four were enYeloped by the
flames from the kerosene,
He grasped for bed clothing with
which to smother the leaping flames
and succeeded in getting Thelma
Roberts out Of the room; He worked
furiousIy to kin the fire on the
others.
Neighborx Gather.
BedclOthes were Of little use. he
said. Meanwhile many neighbors,
the hre department and pedestrians.
attracted by the pitiful cries OF the
children, found their way to the
room.
Alice watkins was dead when
assistance reached her. Her body
was charred badly
Samuel Fowler. a neighbor, COM
Wandering an automobile, rushed
Mary Watkins and Ethel Roberts to
machine carsed baby Earl to the
hospital. Home remedies were ap-
piled to the burns from which Thel-
ma Roberts and Ward were suffer
ing
Ward was later taken to a city
physician who recommended that he
return to his bed.
Mothers Frustrated.
with the return of Mrs. watkins
and the arrival of Mrs. Roberts, who
lives a short way over the hill from
the watkins home, both women be-
came prostrated. Mrs. watkins last
night was confined to her bed
With the news of the tragedy, the
little settlement of Seat Pleasant is
plunged in grief Last night, under
the direction of Louis Litz, secretary
of the community center, a collec-
ton for the relief of the families
was in progress.
Justice Of the Peace John E.
wesst, coroner of that district Of
Prince Georges County, conducted
an inquest over the body of Alice
watkins. The findings of the jury
as rendered by Chairman H. B.
Wells was that the cause was ex-
pIosion, and the circumstances acci-
dental.
Coroner's Verdict.
Coroner Nevitt issued certificates
Of accidental death in the case of
the two other children who died in
the Children's Hospital. The bodies
are at an undertaking establish
ment at Hyattsville-
The watkins family had been res
idents Of Seat Pleasant but a week
They formerly lived at 612 r street
northwest and had moved to the
outskirts of the District so that
the children could have freedom to
play
Tentative funeral arrangements
made by the family provide for a
burial at 3 o'clock Monday
,FFerpoon