The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1869-07-12
IloRRIBLEOCCUR
SIX PERSONS BURNED TO DEATH,
Heartrending Scenes.

red one Of those soul-harrowiog incident.
which for time chill the very blood o.
those living in the locality which is thu:
visited. On the bank of tho Buckhannor
river, a short distance from Bcrner's
Mills, in Upshur county, lived a family
named Quick, consisting Of the gentleman
Of the house, his wife, and three children,
On the 1st Of July they had moved little
further up the river, into the house which
proved to be thc-grayc Of all save one, Of
their number, Early on the morning Of
the End, Mr., Quick started to Beverley
to which place he was carrying the mail
leaving his household inhcalth and happi-
ness. Mrs. Quick, probably to prevent
her children from being alarmed at stay
ing in new house when their father was
absent, had invited two Of the children OF
a neighbor to stay with them during the
night. Some people living at q short dis:
'auce passed the house after dark, and all
was we'll. This was the last seen of the
doomed inmates until their charrcd re-
mains were found smoking in the ruins o
the house next morning.
About eleven o'clock at night, light.
Mug was observed. but not severe ! nor
was any thunder, or any indications Of u
hard storm, heard by the ncighbors. On
the day preceding, too, Mrs. Quick had
been washing, and it was noticed by some
friends who visited her shortly after sup
per, that the clothes were hanging before
the fire to dry. Thus, it is presumed by
many that the lightning was the cause Of
tue destructive work: and by others that
the clothes, left unguardedly before the
log Fireplace, became ignited, and ended
in the burning Of the house. Still others
whisper a suspicion Of foul play; and this
superstition is upheld by the fact that all
the bodies were found near to each other
so close that man could not step be-
tween them. We cannot think that in as
hot weather rs the present, the six unfor-
tuna.e persons would all sleep in one
room; aud how they all got together must
rcm,iu mystery until future develop
ments disclose tho true cause Of the con.
migration. ,jg.is- a.ss u
On the morning Of :hc 81, a Mr.. Cut
right, living in the vicinity, started out
in search Of some cattle, anl observing
large volume Of smoke in tho direction Of
Mr.. Quick's residence, Immediately pro-
ceeded there to discover the cause. In
agine bis horror at finding the house q
heap Of smoldcring ruins, aud in the
midst Of them the bones and little flesh,
which was still frying" in the heat, Of
the lucklcss Inhabitants. Mr.. G. inme-
diately gave the alarm, and quite mum.
Der Of persons were soon on the ground,
Mrs. Quick was found with her youngest
child, ababy, claspcd to her bosom
which was the only flesh left on her body.
Tho child was almost entirely consumed
part gifts little bon:s being the only cv-
idence of what it was. The heads Of all
the victims were burned up; rendering
it entirely impossible to recognize them,
or to say definitely whether their death
had been occasioncd by violence previous
to the fire.
Mr.. Quick didnot return from Bever-
ley until the evening Of the Bird, and in
the meantime coroner's jury had been
summoned, whose verdict we have not yet
learned. In the unavoidable confusion
and excitement incident to the terrible nf.
fair, they will doubtless have hard task
in coming to conclusion.
With the present state Of facts before
US, it would be wrong to hazard n couclu.
sion; for the three supposed causes oftlc
tragic occurrence arc amply sufficient to
puzzle an older and wiser head than ours.
Undoubtedly this IS the most heartrenliug
occurrence which has happened in this
section since the daysof Indian warfare !;
and it strikes horror to the hearts Of those
living near MIR. Quick. What seems
most singular Of all is, that the flames
were not seen by any one. In section
settled as thickly as is the country along
l'uckhannon river at the place named,
where you can hardly find one house a
mile from the other, it seems almost i'm
possible that large frame house could
burn to the ground at any tine-duy or
night-witlout being observed. But such
was the fact; and We can only await with
Impotence the finding of the coroner's
jury.