Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 275, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 December 1917 — Wolcott Woman Near Death Following Burns [ARTICLE]

Wolcott Woman Near Death Following Burns

Wolcott, Dec. 5.. . Mrs. George Scripture, of this place, was terribly i burned this morning shortly aft* 9 o’clock and there is little hope entertained for her. She was preparing to do the'family washing and had a hot fire in a stove in a small wash house in which also was housed a small .gasoline engine to furnish power to drive the washing machine. Mrs. Scripture had a bottle of gasoline with which to prime the engine and she is supposed to have dropped this into the fire. There was an explosion which set fire to her clothing and alko the building. She ran screaming for help and finally attracted the attention of Mrs. Andrew Smith, who lives near the Scripture home. Mrs. Scripture < collapsed and fell to the ground a mass of flames. Several neighbors were aroused by the shouting and came to her assistance. John Warner was one of the first to arrive and he beat out the flaming clothing of Mrs. Scripture. Medical aid was called and Mrs. Scripture, who was suffering terribly was given every comfort possible. Nearly all of the skin on her body was burned off and the physicians in charge say she has no chance to recover. department was dalled and strcceeded in saving the building. Mrs. Scripture had just returned Monday night from Logansport, where she had been to visit her busband who is confined to a hospital there, having sustained a broken leg while working in the railroad yards here Monday afternon. He is in a serious condition, but is expected to recover. The accident happened one block west of where Frank Warner shot eight members of the fire department while they were attempting to save his property and the lives of his family.