125 years ago in 1899, transcribed as originally published in the Youngstown Vindicator:

Terrible experience of Miss Florence Kimberly Wednesday evening. Almost incinerated. Clothing caught from a gas stove – heroic action of two ladies saved her life.

Miss Florence Kimberly, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Kimberly, who for some months has been making her home with Mr. and Mrs. Leclaire Hoover, of 705 North Avenue, had a narrow escape from incineration shortly after 5 o’clock Wednesday evening. Although she escaped fatal injury, Miss Kimberly who is 17 years of age, was seriously and most painfully burned about the limbs, hips, body shoulders and arms.

At about 5 o’clock the young woman went to the bath room, in which was a small gas stove, with flame exposed, to arrange her toilet preparatory to a visit to her parents at Kyles Corners. While engaged at the laver the bottom of her skirts were swept through the flame of the stove which stood directly behind her and ignited. The flame had crept half way towards her shoulders before she discovered her danger. She made a desperate effort to smother the flames but without success when she threw open the door and rushed down stairs. By the time the unfortunate young woman reached the first floor her entire body was enveloped in flames.

Mrs. Hoover, who was holding her seven-months’-old child, and Mrs. Charles Fisher, a neighbor, attracted by the screams of the terrified young woman threw open a door leading from the parlor to the hallway. As they did so, they were horrified at seeing Miss Kimberly, with clothing a mass of flames, rush through a rear door and into the back part of the house. Despite their fright, however, the ladies acted with great promptness and it is due to this fact alone that the victim is not now a corpse.

Snatching up a heavy comfort they hurried after Miss. Kimberly, who, crazed with pain and fright, turned when she reached the rear door that stood open, and ran back to the front hall. Here Mrs. Hoover caught her and held her while Mrs. Fisher wrapped the comfort about her body. She was pulled to the floor and rolled until the flames were smothered. A doctor was hastily summoned, reached the scene and applied soothing lotions within a very few minutes. Orr’s ambulance was called, and the injured girl taken to the City hospital, where an examination revealed the fact that she had escaped without inhaling the flames and although her condition is extremely serious, it is not considered dangerous.

In her efforts to rescue Miss Kimberly, Mrs. Hoover was painfully burned about her left hand, but otherwise escaped injury. Mrs. Fisher escaped injury, although both she and Mrs. Hoover ran a very great risk. In speaking of the affair this morning the latter said: ‘had I been alone in the house with Florence at the time, I am sure both of us would have been burned to death. Our escape was very fortunate indeed.'”

Compiled from the Youngstown Vindicator by Dante Bernard, Mahoning Valley Historical Society educator.