In 1922, Bedford Woman Killed Starting a Fire

On July 25th, 1922, the Bedford Times-Republican printed this story about a woman killed trying to start a fire:

Again we are called upon to chronicle a story as old as the ages, that of a person being burned to death by starting a fire with coal oil. The last victim to pay the awful toll was that of Mrs. Emmet Lasley, residing on Route 5 out of Bedford.

This last sad tragedy resulted on Sunday last at the Lasley home, southwest of Bedford. The noon hour had arrived and Mrs. Lasley in an effort to make a quick fire to get the noon day meal, picked up the coal oil can and started to quicken a slow fire. With a boom that was heard for some distance, the oil can exploded and scattered its burning contents all over the clothing of Mrs. Lasley. With piercing and heart rending screams, the unfortunate woman rushed out into the yard, frantic with fear and pains. Her husband and her brother rushed to her assistance and did everything in their power to squelch the flames but could not kill the fire demon before it had accomplished its awful purpose and the unfortunate woman died a few minutes later. Mr. Lasley, the husband of the fire victim, was terribly burned in his efforts to save the life of his wife, and is reported now in a critical condition. Her brother was also burned, but able to be about.

In the men's wild desire to save the life of the unfortunate woman, no thought was given to the cause of the fire and, when turning to look at the house, were horrified to see their home burn to the ground with all its contents, and they powerless to try to check it.

Mr. and Mrs. Lasley were well known to many of the citizens of Bedford, and the sympathy of the entire community goes out to the grief stricken husband and brother, in their loss, which is irreparable, and never to be forgotten to their dying day.

Since the above was written, a conflicting story is reported here, the claim being made, that the unfortunate woman had filled a coal oil stove with gasoline instead of kerosene, and when the fire was lighted, the explosion occurred as above noted. Just which of the two stories are correct we cannot as yet state, and it would not change the result, and the moral of it all, is that one cannot be too careful in the handling of these combustible oils.