Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 114, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 May 1919 — NARROW ESCAPE FOR TWO [ARTICLE]

NARROW ESCAPE FOR TWO

IRENE HOOVER AND MOTHER BURNED WHEN LAMP EX, PLODED WEDNESDAY Mrs. W. I. Hoover and daughter, Irene, narrowly escaped death at their home on North College avenue Wednesday evening when a kerosene lamp exploded,, setting fire to their clothing and burning each rather severely before the flames were finally extinguished by Samuel Karnowsky who heard their screams and rushed to their asistance. Irene suffered burns on her arms and face and about the neck, and Mrs. Hoover also received painful burns on her arms in attempting’to aid her daughter. However, their burns were not deep ones and it is thought at this time that no permanent disfigurement will result. Irene had put some wood alcohol in the lamp which she had purshased at a local drug store, and an immediate explosion resulted when she placed a lighted match to the wick The explosion caused her clothing to become saturated with the alcohol and in an instant she was enveloped in flumes. At this moment Mr. Karnowsky appeared and it was only after a hard fight that he was able to subdue the flames. He then turned his attentions to Mrs. Hoover and succeeded in routing the flames, which ha<l set fire to her clothing when she went to the assistance of her daughter, only after she had received severe injuries about the arms. It was a narrow escape for both the mother and daughter and but for the prompt assistance of Mr. Karnowsky a tragedy would have undoubtedly resulted.