TERRIBLE ACCIDENTS BY FIRE IN RUSSIA.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1872, 23 February 1880, Page 2

TERRIBLE ACCIDENTS BY FIRE IN RUSSIA.

The "Russian Courier " reports a shocking disaster from Volodarock, in the Government of Kieff. A Jewish boy had been ordered at eight o'clock in the evening of the Bth ult. to fetch some kerosene from a barrel that stood in an outhouse. The barrel contained nearly twenty vedro of this dangerous oil. After filling his oil can, the boy attempted to turn, the tap of the barrel by the help of a candlestick in which there was a lighted candle. In doing so, however, the light fell from the candlestick into the oil can, instantly kindling the kerosene. The boy fled in terror, overturning the can in his flight. The flames rapidly spread, and the people in the house, followed by neighbors, ran up to the scene of the conflagration. Some of the crowd were attempting to get the barrel of kerosene into the open air, when an explosion occurred, covering everybody who was near with the burning oil. The unfortunate persons rushed from the outhouse among tbo crowd which had collected outside, and thus set many of their clothes on fire. Altogether there were thirty-seven persons attacked by the flames, of whom at the date of this report eighteen had already died, while there was little hops for many of the others. Another terrible calamity from fire took place on the 17th ult. at Laisheff, in the Kasan Government. The son of a peasant was celebrating his wedding, and, according to the custom, at night, after the conclusion of the festivities, the newly wedded pair were conducted to their chamber and locked in by the best man. The latter soon afterwards retired to rest with the rest of the company, who were all " strongly alcoholised." At three o'clock in the morning fire broke out in the house, and the intoxicated inmates were all burnt to death, with the exception of the father of the bridegroom. It was found that the newly married couple had managed to open the door of their chamber, but were unable to penei rate through the sea of fire which then surrounded them. On the extinction of the fire, their corpses were found near each other, partially burnt to ashes.