Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 150, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 June 1920 — UTILE GIRL FATALLY BURNED [ARTICLE]

UTILE GIRL FATALLY BURNED

MARDA JOHNSON NEAR DEATH AS RESULT OF BURNS RECEIVED THIS MORNING. Marda, the eleven-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ord Johnson, of Wolcott, is near.death at the county hospital, the resdlt of terrible burns received while attempting to build a.fire at the home of her cousin, “Jpfc’ Homer Hendrickson, on S. Van Rensselaer street, about nine o’clock this Tuesday morning. The attending physicians entertain no hope for her recovery and her death is hourly expected. ■ , . The little girl came to this city last Sunday for a visit with Mr. and Mrs. Hendrickson, following the visit of the latter at her home in Wolcott, and had expected to return to her home next Thursday. -While up town Monday Mrs. Hendrickson had sustained /• very severely sprained ankle. and little Marda was very anxious to assist her in every way possible with the house-work. , ‘ The house seemed chilly ■ this morning and Marda said she would start a fire. Mrs. Hendrickson told her she had better not, but Marda said she had often started the fire at home. ' She must have started the fire and it possibly was not burning as she wanted it, and while burning, the Mttle child must have poured coal-oil on the flames. The can of coal oil must have exploded and the little soul was entirely enveloped in flames. Her startled screams attracted the attention of neighbors and a fire alarm was sent in. Those who ran to her assistance finally succeeded in putting out the flames which enveloped her, but not until her clothes were burned off of her. She was terribly burned about the body, arms and nbek. She was immediately rushed to the county hospital where the physicians did everything possible to relieve her suffering and to save her life. The mother of the girl arrived here about two hours after the tragedy occurred and the father, who was in Lafayette at the time, arrived about noon. Marda was their only child. .... Marda was a bright, lovable little girl and the sympathy of the entire community is extended to the parents and to Mr. and Mrs. Hendrickson in whose home the tragedy occurred.