Wright, May – d. 1900

WRIGHT

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 1/19/2025 at 13:33:23

One of the saddest accidents ever recorded in the history of “the hollow” over at Oswalt neighborhood, took place last Saturday afternoon. Mr. John Wright, who is employed as a top man at the Barrett coal mine, had started to burn off his stalk pasture, and as his duties at the mine demanded his presence there and his wife was in attendance at a meeting of ladies in the neighborhood, to prevent the flames from getting outside of bounds he left his 13-year-old daughter May, on watch, with instructions to warn him if the flames threatened to get away. As he was within easy hearing he thought nothing could happen.
He had been away at work less than an hour when he heard the child’s call, and it was quickly repeated in a way that warned him she was in danger. He hurried to whee he had left her but before reaching the spot met the child enveloped in flames which had burned her flesh almost to a crisp, and removed all her clothing except her shoes. He carried her to the house and hurried for the doctor, but she was past human aid and perished a few moments after the arrival of the doctor. The grief of the parents and brothers may be imaged but not described, and that is was shard by the ind neighbors who thronged to tender aid and sympathy need hardly be stated.
The funeral took place on Monday from the Colfax Baptist church, Rev. Livingstone conducting the exercises, and the interment was at Oak Hill.
It is thought that the child’s death resulted from the drying of the wet gunny sack, her father used to beat out the flames, becoming so dry in her hands that it took fire, the fire extended to her dress, and that her running toward her father only fanned the flames to a fierceness that burned her to death. Strangely enough, although her body and limbs were badly blackened and disfigured her face was unmarked, and in death her features were calm and peaceful.
Source: The Colfax (IA) Clipper; Friday, April 12, 1900, page 10, col. 3