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.