Beckham County, OK - Deaths: Dosia Ellen, Irene Rebecca, and Mary Richardson, 1908
Thursday, 02 October 2008
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell)

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RICHARDSON, DOSIA ELLEN
RICHARDSON, IRENE REBECCA
RICHARDSON, MARY
(16 Jan 1908, Thursday, Beckham County Democrat, Erick, Beckham Co, OK):
Wife, Sister and little Child of Thomos (sic) Richardson Burned to Death.
Monday afternoon the wife, sister and little child of Thomas Richardson of
Sayre were burned to death by explosion of coal oil, while pouring oil in
a heating stove in the house.  The flames burst out of the stove and
exploded the oil can spreading the walls and ceiling of the room setting
the house on fire.  The flames catching the clothing of the inmates and
burning them to death.  The wife and sister were found on the bed in a
dying condition and the little one was lying under the bed with both eyes
burnt out, crying for papa with all his (sic) might.
The neighbors seeing the smoke and hearing the screams of the women rushed
into the house in time to save the building, but too late to render any
assistance to the inmates.
Mr. Richardson and family were well and favorably known and respected in
Sayre.  We with the people of Sayre deeply sympathize with him in this his
terrible affliction.
(16 Jan 1908, Thursday, Sayre Headlight, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK):
Three Deaths Caused by Explosion of Can of Kerosene.
Monday last was the scene of the most distressing accident the citizens of
Sayre have ever been called to witness.
Mrs. T. Richardson in the southeast part of town was rekindling the fire,
using the oil can and pouring the oil from the can into the stove it
became ---(missing word) and the blaze following the stream of oil to the
can caused the can to explode throwing the burning oil over the entire
room, also enveloping Mrs. Richardson and her child and Miss Richardson,
sister of Mr. Richardson, in flames.
Dr. Johnson was present in an adjoining room attending a patient and
hearing the explosion forced the door between the rooms and found the
ladies lying face down on the bed, their clothing and bed on fire.
With great presence of mind the Dr. went to work with a will (possessed by
few people) to get the occupants out of the room.  Mr. Hosmer came to the
assistance of the Dr. with some water.  After the Dr. had rescued Mrs.
Richardson, he returned to the room for the others and dashing some water
on Miss Richardson they succeeded in getting her out and returning for the
child found it under the bed almost roasted.  The Dr. received severe
burns on his hands as he was compelled to almost drag the ladies out of
the room, they not seeming to realize their danger.
All was done that could possibly be done to alleviate their suffering by
Drs. Speed & Windle.  The child passed away at 5 o'clock p.m.; Mrs.
Richardson at 9 o'clock p.m.; and Miss Richardson at 6 o'clock a.m. the
next morning.  Mr. Richardson has the sympathy of the entire community. 
This should be a lesson to all the people of Sayre not to pour oil from a
can into the stove.
(6 Feb 1908, Thursday, Sayre Headlight, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK):
Mary, daughter of J. C. Murphy and wife of Lockridge, Oklahoma, was born
near Stella, Nebraska, September 19, 1882, was married to Thomas H.
Richardson at Guthrie, October 19, 1905, then moving to Sayre where she
departed this life January 12th, 1908, occasioned by a can of coal oil
exploding while she was pouring oil in the stove to rekindle fire.  All
was done that could be done to prolong her life but of no avail and she
passed away at 8 o'clock.  She was conscious to the time of her death,
making requests and arranging for the burial of herself and little baby
which took place January 14th.  She leaves husband, father, mother, five
sisters and five brothers and many other relatives to mourn their loss. 
She lived a faithful christian, and together herself and child were laid
to rest in the Catholic cemetery at Lockridge.

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