Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-17
Further Particulars OF the Fire and Loss
OF Life mt Fort WILMINGTON.


Further Particulars or the Fire and Loss
OF Life mt Fort Washington.
The New York papers contain further par
ticulars of the burning of the residence Of John
A., Haven, Esq, at Fort Washington, and the
terrible deaths Of his three daughters, who per-
ished in the flames. On Saturday an inquest
was held over the bodies of the three unfor-
tunate girls, Ann Mary Grace, and Sarah
Haven, and the following, among other testi-
mony, adduced:
John A. Haven, father of the deceased, being
sworn, testified that it was his usual custom to
examine his premises every night before retir.
ing, and he did so on this occasion at about
II o'clock; and finding all apparently safe re-
tired to his room; but some time after was
aroused by the cry Of "fre;" got up and ordered
all IN the house to leave it. He could not say
how the fire originated, but Is satisfied that it
broke out in the wash-room on the northwest
corner of the building.
John NJ. Hopkins, brother-in-law of the de-
ceased, testified that between three and four
O'Clock on Saturday morning he was called by
Mrs. Haven, who informed him that their house
was on fire. He proceeded to the house as
soon as possible, and learned that some one Of
the family was still in the drawingroom. He
procured ladder, and by it went up to the win
dow, and heard groans proceeding from inside
the room. The smoke was very dense, and he
reached his hand in and caught hold of Miss
Anna, whom he rescued by the assistance of
Mr.. Connolly, and she is now recovered. Eff.
| teen minutes after this Miss Ann Mary and
Miss Grace were taken dead from the China
closet In the drawing-room. Miss Sarah was
also taken out dead.
Kate Lane, waitress in the family, being
sworn, stated that she retired about ten o'clock
on the night in question, leaving two German
| girls ironing in the room, and fire in the
range, where they heated their smoothing
irons; some hours after she was awakened by
the cry Of fire." and on going out to call the
coachman to assist in putting out the flames,
met Miss Ellen, who asked her to get the silver
from the closet; after calling the coachman
she got into the dinner-room and handed out
a draw which contained the silver; she then
saw Miss Mary lying in the closet, and called
out that such was the case.
Some other testimony was elected, showing
that at first all the family escaped in safety
from the burning building; that subsequently
some of the Miss Hayens asked Kate Lane,
one of the servants, TO 60 into the dining-room
| and carry out the plate before the FIRE reached
it, but the girl refused, fearing that she would
| be suffocated by the smoke, or burned to death
! in the attempt. Miss Sarah Langdon Haven,
who was in her night dress, then ran into the
building, as it is supposed, for her clothes, and
that was the last that was seen of her till her
charred and backened remains were taken
from the ruins. She was followed by her three
sisters, Mary, Grace, and Anna, the two first of
| whom were sufocated. 1t was thought at first
when they went into the building that they
would return Immediately, but when three or
four minutes elapsed without any Of them MAX
ing their appearance, and every room in the
house appeared to be filled with smoke, the
greatest apprehensions were felt for their
safety.
Mrs. Haven had been at the house of her
son-in-law, Mr.. Hopkins, short distance off,
bare-headed and bare-footed, and had returned
but few minutes before the disappearance of
her daughters. A considerable number of their
neighbors had also collected, and every exer-
ton was made to rescue them. After great
effort, Miss Anna only was rescued, the other
three having persisted.
DR.. Philip O'Hanlon, who had examined
the bodies, testified that the death of Miss
Sarah l.. Haven was caused by burns, her
| body having been found burned to crisp, and
the death of the other two deceased was caused
by sufocaton. The evidence was here closed,
4
dered a verdict of death by burns in the case
of Miss Sarah, and by sufocation in the case
Of Grace and Mary Haven. Sarah was 26
years Of age; Ann Mary was "a, and Grace
was Is years Of age.
! The body Of Sarah was found on Saturday
beneath the ruins, greatly disfgured, and in a
kneeling position, with her hands to her face,
and her face to the ground. BY the side Of
her we're charred fragments Of a wooden wrap:
per, which she had probably taken to put on.
| The New York Times Says
The terrible news of the calamity reached
this city on Saturday, about 10, a. m. 1t ex-
cited the liveliest interest and sympathy. The
relations and friends Of the family Immediately
set out to visit the scene. Rev. DR.. Osgood,
pastor of Church of the Messiah, was among
the number. The family were COMMITMENTS
Of his church, Mr.. Haven being among its old
est members. He was very much affected, and
mentioned among other things that Sarah had
sent him, but few weeks ago, considerable
sum Of money, as contribution of " the Sis.
tiers" for the poor.
The parents, as may be we'll conceived, are
overwhelmed at their bereavement Anna is
at the residence Of Mr.. Connolly, and is slowly
recovering. Her throat is thought by DIR. III.
| lott to have been burned as it is quite sore.
She has not yet been told Of the loss Of her sis.
tiers.
On Sunday the bodies we're at the house Of
Mr.. Hopkins. That of Sarah was not shown.
That Of Grace was said to be but little changed,
while the features Of Mary we're almost life.like
in their expression, with not even the hue Of
death. She seemed rather to be feigning
asleep in tableau, and still retained the remark.
able beauty of her life.
There were seven sisters in the family: Anna,
who was rescued Augusta, the wife of Mr..
Hopkins Sarah, Mary, and Grace, who were
lost; Helen and Fanny, the last of whom was
al school at the time in the city.