Two girls, aged 12 and 14, daughters of Nelson SHEPPARD, of Beaufort county, NC, met a horrible death. The parents were at church and the children lighted a fire and poured kerosene from the can upon the blaze. A terrible explosion took place, the clothing of the girls took fire, and both were burned to death.
Source: Roanoke Beacon, 16 August 1889. Available online at digitalnc.org.