Posted on: Washington Co. Va Queries Reply Here: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/gc/USA/Va/Washington/10295 Surname: Fields, Dunn, Childers ------------------------- The Maryville Weekly (Maryville, TN), Friday, February 6, 1880 One of the most awful accidents in the history of Abingdon occurred last Friday in the burning to death of Miss Sarah Ann Fields of that town. Miss Fields was a sister of Mr. James Fields, a prominent citizen of the town, and has long been an inmate of his household. The family were living in the D.C. Dunn brick building, west of the depot on Main Street. At the time of the accident, only the doomed lady, Mr. Fields' two daughters, Miss Annice and Ellen, and a small negro boy, were on the premises. The two daughters were in the east room below, and their aunt, Miss S.A. Fields, was occupying a room in the second story of the ell. She had carried up to her room a lot of chips, and had put a portion of them on the fire, and was seated in front of it, when a lighted corn-cob fell from the top of the fire and rolled beneath her dress. This was unnoticed by her until she found her dress on fire. At noon the two young ladies below heard her screams, but at first thought them those of sport, proceeding from the children of Mr. Childers, who lived on the adjoining lot. When they were convinced of their mistake, Miss Annice Fields ran to her assistance, and on entering the room found her standing near the door completely enveloped in flames. With wonderful presence of mind, she wrapped her in one of the bed covers, and thus extinguished the flames. Too late! She was burned to a blackened crisp from her ankles to the crown of her head. Every vestige of clothing was burned from her, excepting her shoes, which were tightly laced, her feet only being unharmed. She was able to tell the particulars, but died in two hours. Miss Annice Fields, in her heroic efforts to save her aunt, was severely burned, and would unquestionably have lost her life, but for the fact that she was clad in woolen goods. The deceased was aged, perhaps, some 60 years. ---Bristol News.