TERRIBLE LAMP EXPLOSION.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1789, 30 April 1874, Page 2

TERRIBLE LAMP EXPLOSION.

[BEOBi THE STji , TOSEPH afeK^D, (^AN. 16. ] Yesterday morningj' about 6 o'clock, the residence of James M'Ginnis, south-west corner of Nineteenth and Edmbnd streets was the scene of one of the most horrible and heart-sickening scenesithat we have ever been called upon to record. It was occasioned, by the bursting of an ozoline lamp.' ! Usually/ in : sueh 'cases, 1 accidents are the direct result of sheer carelessness, but in this there was no want of precau* tion, , and . the sad . result , isn whatj migh i have befallen any one.' At the above hour the family, arose from., their, becU, and Mr M'Gihriis, His wife/ their eldest daughter Annie, and the]- baby Florence, repaired to the kitchen. Mrs'M'Ginnis sent Annie upstairs to, bring; down the lamp for-refilling. _The lamp^was; brought and Mrs M'Ginnis; -filled, it with ozoline within one inch of tihe burner,' then lighted? the wick and liujned >dowj}jthQ chimney, when the lamp exploded .with a loud report, hurling' the flames in every direction about the small room. The oil can, which contained nearly a 'gallon of the liquid, was also involved in i the explosion, and contributed largely to the devouring element, which, completely filled the room. The bulk of the flanies shot like lightning across the rbom- and over Annie, aitting-between her mother and the-bei, and caught the bed in which laytha little baby Florence. Immediately Mr M'Gmim seized his wife and babe and threw-them out of the window.- By this time Annie was in a sheet of flame, and her father was very badly burned from head to foot. ■Joseph, one of the sons, was upstairs) at the time; but hearing the report rushed below, and in his efforts to do something was- very severely burned on both hands, and his hair was singed. ( The other children rushed our of dqors screaming {< Murder! murder! fire !' fire J v ' : The neighbors were aroused by the wild cry of terror, and' forthwith went to the house to witness a scene which -baffles description. Mr Kent arrived 'first, and was soon followed, by other • neighbors.. The room was ablaze. The mother "and babe were struggling with, the flame? iwhich enveloped them upon the frozen ground. The brave, father, .suffering intensely, was i found sitting upon tho porch in a

delirium, hia every footstep from the scene of the terrible accident being marked with blood. = The eldest daughter, Annie, had crawled out ;of &c cauldron; qf flame and;, w&S; endeavoring I^j.climb the stairway< J.The flames were; subdued .and the, building saved;: with very! slight damage. ; The door leading from the kitchen was charred, the window casings were ■ burned and the floor and ceiling blackened with flame and smoke; Drs Ghesney and Brock were sent for, and subsequently Dm Donelan and Doyle. Ini the meai.y time the sufferers were laid upon couches and everything' that the knowledge and kindness of sympathising /neighbors could suggest'was done, -j But the flames had done their f earf uli work. Annie, 17. years of age and just budding, into womanhood, was burned to a ■ crisp from head to foot, and after a most agonising Btruggle death relieved her '•••■at 11 o'clock; James M'Ginnis, the father, was severely burned all over his body, and died at 20 minutes past 12 o'clock. Mrs M'Ginnis was very severely burned, on the face, neck, and both hands and arms, and the baby on the face, both arms and lower limbs. The latter^ 17 months old, has been sick for some time ' with pneumonia, and its recovery is doubtful , with the chances, however, in favor of life. The physicians think the mother will recover; Joseph, although suffering greatly, will recbVer.