The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-11-04
BURNED ALIVE.
Four Children Burned Alive-A Chapter of


The Burlington HdaUk Eye, October 80, SAYS
About 2 o'clock on Saturday morning an
alarm of fire was sounded in the vicinity of the
Hd,ck-Eye office. The flames were discovered
in the rear of an old two-story frame building
on the north side of Washington street.
After protecting the adjacent property the
streams were turned upon the burning building
(Which it was impossible to save), and in five
minutes the flames had been SO nearly
smothered out that it became necessary to light
the gas in the street lamp on the alley corner
to enable the iremen and citizens to proceed
with the terrible task that now lay before them,
that of eXhuming from the smoking ruins the
charred remains of four human beings who had
perished in the flames. 1t was a heart-sickening
scene, and it was in silence that the large con-
course of citizens present watched the dim
light of the lanterns as the firemen and others
clambered over the wreck in search of the lost.
One after another the bodies were removed, and
taken to the basement of the Court House to
await the Coroner's inquest.
From the evidence developed at the coroners
court, it appears that Michael Bacher, the pro-
prietor of the saloon, and one of his daughters
were confined to their beds with intermittent
fever, and that the parents and six children
occupied the front room on the second floor,
while O son. Philip Bacher, slept in an adjoining
room back of them, called the middle room.
The third room upon the second floor was un-
occupied.
The fire when first discovered was in the
kitchen part-the inmates were aroused by the
alarm OF people upon the outside Mr.. Bacher
aWakeueu MS SOU IHllp III Tue luluulo IOOul,
who rushed to the front window and jumped
out. Mr.. Bacher helped his wife out and
then, nearly suffecated by the dense smoke,
made an effort to rescue his children.
out through the window, letting them
| down as best he could to the walk
below. By this time, in his enfeebled condition,
| and nearly senseless with sufocation, he at
| tempted his own escape-climbed out of the
| window, and with the help of his son succeeded
! in getting upon the ladder but the hot smoke
! driving into his face, or else his physical pros
| tration, caused him to sway back and forth for
few seconds in helpless condition, and then
! iall down the ladder to the ground lnsenslble.
| Other ladders were raised to the front windows,
| but by this time the fire and smoke had obtained
such headway that no one could enter the room,
although several daring spirits made the futile
| effort.
After his father fell to the ground the son,
| Philip, who is about 10 years of age, left the
family and went to the stable in the rear har-
messed his two horses, and led them out to a
| place of safety. 1t is a distressingly strange
circumstance that this young man should SO
lose his presence of mind to leave the rear
room (nearest the fire., pass through the front
room, which was the furthest from the flames
! at the time, and make no effort to rescue his
| little brother and sisters. There were three
windows in front which could have been
smashed out ir an instant and the children
handed out or even tossed to the pavement
below, which, at the worst, would have been
better than burning TO death.
Our desire, however not to do injustice tC
any person forbids any further comment upoI
an event so terrible In every aspect.
The charred remains were placed in one coffin
and inferred on Saturday afternoon-not until
however they had been viewed by q large mum
Der of our citizens, and lastly the friends of tbs
unfortunate victims: AS the mother took he
last look at the blaekened forms that a few
hours previous were her children in quiet repose
the scene became one too agonlzing to describe
and one which We hope never again to witness