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Atlanta Daily World
Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia
What is this article about?
William Clark, 59, suffered 90% third-degree burns in a southwest Atlanta shack fire early Wednesday; companion Charlie Benton, 47, extinguished flames on him, injuring himself slightly, and was detained as witness. Alcohol bottle found at scene.
Merged-components note: Continuation of Atlanta Visitor story from page 1 to page 6.
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A visitor to Atlanta was critically burned over approximately 90 per cent of his body early Wednesday morning when his clothing caught fire as he slept in an abandoned shack in Southwest Atlanta, police reported.
The victim's companion at the shack was awakened by the piercing screams of the injured man, and stripped off his clothes to prevent the flames from eating away his entire body.
The flaming body was identified as William Clark, 59, a Miami, Fla. resident who has lived in the Atlanta area for the past six months, police said.
Later Wednesday afternoon, Clark was reported in "critical condition" at Grady Hospital where he was undergoing treatment for the burns to his body.
Patrolmen P. E. Johnson and J. I. Melton said a Grady Hospital doctor told them that Clark suffered third degree burns over approximately 90 per cent of his body.
ANOTHER MAN BURNED
A second man, identified Charlie Benton, 47, of a Neal St., N.W. address, was at the scene when Clark's screams pierced the after-midnight silence.
Benton, later held by police a material witness pending further investigation, was quoted as saying that he and the victim ate at a Decatur St. grill earlier in the night and walked to the shack located in the woods between 1300 block of Joyland Pl. N.W.
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Atlanta Visitor
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and the Southwest Expressway.
They sat down inside the shack police said they were told, and built a fire. Then both men dozed off to sleep, police said.
Benton told police that he was awakened by the screams of Clark.
Police said Benton further told them that he then saw that Clark's clothing was covered by flames.
Benton attempted to tear Clark's clothes from his body, and in so doing the rescuer was burned on one hand and one leg.
Benton, police said they were told, finally managed to strip the human torch of his clothes, then help was summoned to the scene, Patrolman Johnson said. The victim told him that he had no relatives, but that he was born in Summerville, S. C. He had stayed at a Forest Park, Ga. address for the past six months, police reported.
A half-pint bottle about half full of what police described as "alcohol" was found at the scene of the fire.
The fire department was called to the scene, and extinguished the minor shack blaze before it got out of hand.
Benton, police said, was held as a material witness in connection with the incident.
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Story Details
Key Persons
Location
Southwest Atlanta, Abandoned Shack In The Woods Between 1300 Block Of Joyland Pl. N.W. And The Southwest Expressway
Event Date
Early Wednesday Morning
Story Details
William Clark, 59, from Miami but living in Atlanta area, was critically burned over 90% of his body when his clothing ignited while he slept in an abandoned shack after he and Charlie Benton ate at a Decatur St. grill, walked to the shack, built a fire, and dozed off. Benton awoke to Clark's screams, stripped the burning clothes saving him from worse injury but burning his hand and leg; a half-pint of alcohol was found at the scene. Clark was in critical condition at Grady Hospital with third-degree burns; Benton held as material witness.