A THRILLING INCIDENT.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXI, Issue 220, 20 September 1895, Page 3

A THRILLING INCIDENT.

♦ Perhaps the most startling incident of the whole of the electoral campaign m the United Kingdom happened m Ireland, m connection with, the North Koscommon contest. The battle had been fought' and won, and the inhabitants of the little town of Elphin turned out en masse to celebrate the victory of Mr J. J. Kelly. A torchlight procession was formed, the torches being composed of sods of turf, satuiated with kerosene and carried on forks. Presently the torches began to fail, and some of the men proceeded to revive them. The Roscommon Herald says :— • Martin Early carried the oil, and a man named Tyman brought the candle. Early was about to pour some oil on the almost extinguished turf, the people closing around him, when a spark fell into the can. Then followed a shocking scene. In the twinkling of an eye the oil was ablaze, the can flew into the air to a distance of forty feet and came spinning back m bits, scattering iv all directions, igniting the clothes of fifteen of the celebrants, and the hair of a great many others. The greatest consternation prevailed, and the shrieks of the children who asked to be saved rent the air. It was heartrending. Neighbours rushed to the scene to assist m extinguishing the flames by means of water, but, of course, that only gave them additional strength, and the poor sufferers recognising this became frantic. Had it not been for the presence of mind of a sergeant of police, who shouted for coats and blankets and managed to get some of the men to make effectual use of them, the results would have been tenfold more dissstrous. As it was, one poor fellow died m a few hours m frightful agony, and the lives of a Lumber of others were despaired of. (For continuation of reading matter see first and fourth pages. )