The Extremely Unfortunate Year of Mr. William Savidge, Of Turbotville.

This 1931 photo is of Links Store. Sixty years earlier, this had been the store of William Savidge.

In 1870, Mr William Savidge of Turbotville was having a very bad year. His valuable horse had been stolen, then later his store had been robbed. An attempt was made to blow up his safe, and separately, his stable had been burnt to the ground. Then, on September 27th 1870, a coal oil lamp exploded in his home, burning him and his two children, and killing his wife.

Born in January of 1821 in Derry Twp, Columbia (Now Montour) County Pa.  He was the 3rd child, and first born son, out of 14 children born to Benjamin Savidge and Elizabeth Hunter.

In 1848, at the age of 27, he married Elizabeth Statton.  Six years later, William was appointed postmaster of the town of Turbotville, where he owned a store.

In 1869,and 1870, his parents, in their 70's, passed away within a year of each other.  Around the same time, a valuable horse owned by William was stolen.  And then his store was broken into , the safe carried out and an attempt made to blow it open. 

A short time later, his stable was burnt to the ground.

And then, on n September 27th 1870, "Mrs. William Savidge of Turbotville died of the effects of burns from an exploding lamp".  

"Coal Oil Lamps" were typically glass lanterns with wicks, what we refer to as an oil lamp, or kerosene lantern today.

Fairly new to homes in the 1860s, in the 1870s more and more families were leaving them burn overnight, as robberies became more of a problem.  

The Savidges had done just that, leaving the light on in a coal bucket, in a room adjoining their sleeping room.  Mr Savidge was awoken by the light of the blaze as the flame "struck out beyond the chimney of the lamp".

William leapt out of bed, but finding he could not blown out the lamp, he went to the kitchen for water to pour on it.  Mrs Savidge then sprang out of bed, picked up  the bucket and was going to carry it out the door, but the fire burnet her hands, and she dropped the bucket and lamp.  As she dropped it, the lamp fell over, and flames engulfed the woman's clothing.

Mr Savidge ran in and tore the burning clothing form his wife, burning his hands almost to the bone.  

Their two children, Benjamin and Sadie, had been awoken by their mothers screams, and both burned their hands and feet as they attempted to help her.

Mrs Savidge was burned from head to foot, every part of her body except "the top of hear head."  She lingered until 5am, when "death relieved her of her suffering."

The house was set on fire, but the fire was extinguished before too much damage was done.

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The Northumberland County Democrat, Friday Oct 7 1870

William Savidge died in 1876, and his son Benjamin then took over the store.  In 1926 when Benjamin did, his son William briefly ran the business before selling it to Joseph White in 1927.