Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1867-04-16
MISUNDERSTANDING CALAMITY.

Upon Thursday night of last week, says
the RavenDa (Ohio) Democrat of April 2,
the dwelling house of Michael Blitzer,
blacksmith living at Suffield Center, was
burned to the ground, and in it five children.
The dwelling occupied by Mr.. Bitter was a
rather small two-story house. The lower
apartments were occupied as sitting room,
kitchen and pantry, the upper rooms being
occupied by the family for bed rooms. The
family of Mr. Bitter consisted of himself
wife and six children and an apprentice.
The eldest of the children was girl about
twelve years old, the youngest, an infant of
few months. A little boy two years old
was at Mrs. Blitzer's parents, the other chill
dren being at home on the fearful night. Mr..
and Mrs Bitter, with the babe, occupied
one room, the four children and the appren-
tce sleeping in another.
About eleven O'Clock Mrs. Bitter arose,
lit candle, and descended to the pantry for
some milk for the babe, which she gave it,
and then replaced it in the cradle it occupied
by the bedside. Later in the night, about
twelve O'Clock as is supposed, the apprentice
was awakened by the Oldest child, who
aroused him by shaking him. The girl did
not speak, as the room was then filled with
smoke to the point of sufocation, and the
apprentice found himself so nearly suffocated
that he could not speak. He rushed at once
to the room of Mr. Bitter, and aroused him
by shaking him. Mr.. B. awakened his wife
and rushed down stairs, who followed,
neither for the moment thinking of the babe
Throwing open an outside door, draft was
created, and the whole premises sprang into
blaze.
The apprentice returned to the other cham
ber, but the smoke and heat had so increased
that he at once sought to descend, but found
} that was impossible, and jumped from the
window OF the room to the ground. After
getting outside, Mr.. Bitter made several
frantic attempts to re-enter the house to
rescue his children, but failed in each effort
The house soon fell, burying in this debris the
remains of five children. 1t is supposed
} that the children were suffocated with smoke
} before the flames could reach them. The
girl who awakened the apprentice, it is
} thought sank down upon the floor, dying at
the bedside at once, as her remains were
; found In position Indicating such fact.
5 The presence of mind of the little creature,
b which enabled her to awaken the appren-
e tice, without doubt saved the life of her
d parents, though she was at the time in the
g agonies of death. The act was an instance
I Of the most touching heroism well worthy
d of precious memory. The origin of the fire
y lisa matter of theory, and the one generally
% accepted is, that Mrs. Bitter, in going into
,, the pantry with the candle, unconsciouslI
u set something on ire-papers upon thu
1t shelves perhaps-trom which the conflagra
'e tion ensued. The charred remains of thu
le five victims of the merciless element wer
ID buried in one grave, on Thursday, the solemn
is ceremonies being attended by large con
ID course, and the greatest sympathy mani
30 tested for the crushed and distracted parents