The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1833-03-12

we pave the suDJoincu oeu''o""i -
tic,,iars of the melancholy deaths by firr,
RECENTLY, in Waterbury, Coun.,' from the
New Haven Comm Palladium.
About half pas, two o'clock on the
morning of Sunday, the dwelling house
of Mr.. Israel Holmes, was discovered 10
he on fire. There were nine individuals
in the house-Mrs. Holmes aud her four
children, the eldest aged about years,
the youpges. an isfant at the breast; two
elderly ladies, Hannah and Olive Judd,
Miss Harriet Nichols and Mr.. John N.
Tutlle. The family hnd oil retired by
about ~ o'clock, apparently in the most
perfect security. Mrs. Holmes and her
Two youngest children slept in the west
front room, and the aforementioned la
dies, (her aun,s) ia The back room ad-
Joining, all On tie FIRST floor. Miss Nich-
als ard the two oldest children slept In
the from. chamber over the east front
room, and Mr.. Tutile in the hack room
,d;,,uing. in the second story. The
room generally occupied by the family
md where the fire was kept, was on the
ems, n,le of The house, directly under the
chanhers occupiei Nv Miss Nichols and
Mr. rultle. Yhe apartment was warm
cd hy a cooking stove, ,he pipe OF which
was intersectrd through the chimney o.
yer large old fashioned fire place. pro
tected by n common wooden frc-board.
Here no doobe was the spot where the
fire originated aud from subsequent cir
cunasIaNces, it appenrs that this room
was lisid mass Of flame before any of
the inmates had any knowledgc 81 their
perilous situation. Mrs. Holmes was
the fret TO behold the awful scene which
threatened the slumbering inmate. The
flames had penetrated through the par
ti,ion and undermined the Cliumber
stairs which led from tho front cntry.
and falling with loud crash awakened
her. She saw at glance the entry an
fismes--hastered tn the doc. Of her
amnts in tho adjoining room and gave
the salarm: from thence through the
kitchen % the back stairs, where she
gave the alarm ~ the inmates above,
BY this time the fidmes were bursting
into the kitchen aud the room occupied
by herself and children; she returned
and took them into the back room with
the otd ladies, in hopes OF hearing from
the persons above. Bu, the flames came
rushing in and there was now left no
hope for the five bu, to escape through
n s@Hll window Of only the size Of Six
lights. With great presence Of mind.
Mrs. ii. handed out her Two unconscious
infants, sprung out herself, sand convey
them to the residence of her father few
rods distant, where she alarmed the fam
lily aud briefly consigning them to their
care, proceeded with no, other covering
iut her night dress TO awaken several Of
the neighbors. In tho meantime one of
her aupts succeeded in extricatirg her
self, md in the same destitute condition
proceeded down the street sounding the
alarm. At tl,is stage or this awfil ca
Iamify, some of ths uenrest neighhors
had arrived at the falI! spot. The whole
interios presented one living glare of
flame; the wind Flew hurricane; the
air was as cold as Iceland; and not a
single inmate of the house was 20 be
seen. The appalling truth soon flashed
upon the mind 10 all its horrid reulities;
,he whole family had perished But
kind providence had ordered otherwise.
The other Miss Judd had with great diff
ficuliy been rescued. ami Miss Nichols
had escaped unknown To any one, by
throwing herself from The clnmber win
dow. From her we have The only ac-
csunt Of the melancholy fate Of the three
who perished. NJ. Tot,ie must have been
aroused by the crios Of Mrs. Hnimss, or
about that time. Ills first impulse was
20 save the lives Of MssNichols and tho
children. She was awoke by him, and
in tone Of self.possession, calling on
her TO hand him the children, and fellow
him TO the hnck siairs--nn opening the
door he perc eived that fhe fire had cut
of their retreat. and feeling the AOor
tremble under him, eUtreatcd her To save
herself and he would do the best he
could with the children. Here her mind
seems Ia have been somewhat confused;
she escaped through the window and
landed on the platform below. Her per-
son was badly Gu, by the glass, apd her
flesh burnt in several placss, but no
homes were broken. Ma doubt remains
but the fate Of Mr. Tut,le and the two
chijdren was sealed simultaneously with
the escape of Miss Nichols. With the
children in his arms he was making 40
effort for The window when the Goor
gave way, and all three were smothcred d
in tho flames which rugged below. Their
mutilated remains were discovered ms
fires died awny, near each other in the
cellar, about 10 the same direction where
Miss Nichols last saw them.
Female courage and prescaee Of Mind