The Sunday Gazetteer Sunday, July 28, 1895 pg. 4 HARMLESS COAL-OIL CAN Friday morning, a few minutes before noon Miss Mollie Owens, a young lady, 16 years of age, residing with her brother, John Owens, west of the city about 2 miles, picked up the coal oil can and attempted to kindle a fire in the cook stove. Between one and two gallons of oil were in the can, and in the stove was a small fire. An explosion followed, oil was strewn all over the room, and in much less time than it takes to relate it the lady's clothing from head to foot were on fire while the flames as rapidly spread over the building. Miss Owens ran out doors and around and around the house screaming from pain and terror. The young lady finally fell to the ground, but it was too late; her clothing were about all consumed, and more than two-thirds of the surface of her body was either a solid blister or burned to a crisp. The explosion of the oil was heard by the neighbors, and in a few minutes assistance arrived. Medical aid was summoned from the city, and everything possible was done to alleviate the torture of the lady. However, the injuries are fatal, and it is only a question of a few days at best until death ensues. The house together with all the household effects were destroyed. A rumor was current in the city that a child had perished in the building. Such, however, is not true. Mr. John Owens, the owner of the building and brother to the young lady so horribly burned, is section boss at Ray. The building was located near the big bridge across the railroad track, just east of the section house. LOCAL CONDENSATIONS Friday, July 26, 1895 - Miss Belle Owens, aged 17 years, was fatally burned this afternoon at the residence of her brother, John Owens, 3 miles west of Denison. The Sunday Gazetteer Sunday, August 4, 1895 pg. 2 LOCAL CONDENSATIONS Sunday, July 28, 1895 - The remains of Miss Mollie Owens, the young lady who was burned to death Friday west of the city a few miles, were interred in Calvary Cemetery. Calvary Cemetery Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message |
