Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1846-02-03
From the Racine Advocate Extra.
TUESDAY, JAN. %, 1916.
MOST AWFUL CALAMITY.

MOST AWFUL CALAMITY.
One Of the most heart-rending md af-
flictive calamites that ever befe our COM
munity. occurred in this village before dawn
this (Tuesday) morning. The Dwelling
Of the Honorable MARSHALL Nj. STRONG,
now absent at Madison, as one Of the
Councillors in the Legislature from this
County, was consumed by fre-and MRS
STRONG. with her SON anG DAUGH-
TER, Persisted IN THE FLAMES!!
Our whole community is horror-stricken
at this awful Providence! The pail of
death seems to have been spread over ev-
cry house in our place-grief and mourn
ing are depicted in every countenance, and
sorrow and alarm agiate our entire pop
ulation.
The dwelling was frame building,
with a board shed as q kitchen; and from
all that we can learn, in the agitation OF
the moment, it would seem the fire must
have originated in this back shed-but
whether from the cooking stove, or hot
ashes placed in wooden vessel, or other
wise. has not yet been ascer:aine1. Most
Of those in the immediate neighborhood
and who were first at the fire, concur in
saying that the flames were first seen 10
burst forth from the Temporary kitchen in
question. A strong North Easterly wind
had been blowing throughout the night
and continued up TO the time Of the des-
truction Of the house. All efforts to che ok
the flames, or to save anything in the bull
ding, or eren the lives Of the hnpless rictims,
were consequently unavaiing.
| The servant girl, with the little boy,
were sleeping up stairs in the back part Of
the building; and Mrs. Strong, with the lit
lie girl. were in her bedroom in the second
story Of the front part. And from the in
coherent relation of the servant girl whose
agitation and distraction Of mind, prevent
her from recollecting anything very dis
| timely that occurred at that awful moment,
it appears that when Mrs. Strong and he
servant girl were first awakened from their
slumbers by the smoke, or the cracking
of the lllmes, they both involuntary rushed
out Of dools in their night clothes.
Mrs. STR NJ, al the instant she turned
and was made sensible of the danger ar.
ound her, urged by anosher's all-pervading
affection Ct her offspring, and following
the holy impulse Of woman's nature he
roically rushed into the midst Of the smoke
and flames. with The frantic hope Of saving
her childrea
Deaoted woman! She and her darling
offspring met q common fate They were
burned in the midst Of the ruthless e,e-
ment with VIII CHI the whole building was
then so entirely enveloped, as to battle all
human efforts to stay its progress!-Lad-
ders were procured, windows burst in, and
every effort was used by those first on the
ground, ID penetrate the mass Of fire and
smoke, with The hope of saving the victims
from so awful a fate. But cetain death a
waited him who might have made the dar-
! ing attempt 10 enter.
Mr.. RYAN's house was in immediate
proximity with Mr.. Strong's; and it was
with great difficulty that il was saved
Mr. Ryan feels grateful 10 his neighbors
for their activity, their energy, and their
determined perseverance, in preventing
the flames from getting permanent hold
on his premises.
The remains Of Mrs. Strong, and her
two children, were dug out Of the ruins of
the building this morning; their bodies
were so nearly consumed, that it is utter
ly impossible TO recognise them other
than the crisp'd and charr'd bones and re-
mains Of human beings. How agonizing,
and how appalling, to even the manly
feelings Of the honored husband and father!
A gentleman started for Madison at 4
O'Clock this morning, 10 carry the affective
intelligence TO Mr.. Strong. And while we
are preparing this extra, an inquest is be-
ing held on the remains Of the victims.