National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1870-11-25
Four Children Burned TO Death.

An Iowa paper gives the details of the
burning to death of four children at
burlington. 1t was a heart-sickening
sight, and it was in silence that the large
concourse of citizens present watched,
in the dim light of the lantern, as the
tirenen and others clambered over the
wreck in search of the lost One after
another the bodies were removed.
Michael Bacher, the proprietor of the
saloon, and one of his daughters, were
confined to their beds with intermittent
fever, and the parents and six children
occupied the front room on the second
floor while son, Phillip Bacher, slept
IN an adjoining room back of them, cal
led the middle room. The third room
upon the second floor was unoccupied.
The saloon was closed at 10 p. NJ and a
lamp left burning in the front room,
where the sick persons were taken care
of. The fire, when discovered, was in
the kitchen pnrt-the inmates were
aroused Ivy the alarm of people upon the
outside. Mr.. Bacher awakened his son
Phillip in the middle room, who rushed
to the front window and jumped ont
Mr.. Bacher helped his wife ont, and
then, nearly suilocated by the dense
smoke, made an effort to rescue his child
zen. Two OF them he succeeded in put
ting out through the window, letting
them as best us he could to the walk be-
low. BY this time, in his enfeebled con-
dition, and nearly senscless with suffoca-
ton, he attempted his own escape, climb
ed 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 prostration,
caused him to sway back and forth for a
few seconds in helpless condition, and
then fall to the ground inscnsible.
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, Phillip, who is about nineteer
years of age, left the family and went tc
the stable in the rear, harncssed his TIVE
horses and led them ont to Il place o
safety. 1t is distressingly strange cir
cumstance that this Young man Shout,
so lose his presence of mind as to leav
the rear room nearest the fire. pas
through the front room, which was tn
furthest from the flames at that time
= and make no effort to rescue his it'll
brother or sisters. There were tire
windows in front which could have bee
smashed out i'll an instant and the child
rem handed out or even tossed to tn
pavement below, which, at the worst
would have been better than burning t
: death. The charred remains were place
IN one coffin and inferred the followin
Saturday afternoon not until, however
they had been viewed by large numbc
of our citizens. and lastly by the friend
of the unfortunate victims. As tn
mother took her last look at the black
ened forms that few hours previou
were her children in quiet repose, tb
scene became one too agonizing to de
scribe, and one which we hope neve
again to witness. The names of the de
ceased and their ages, were Saral
Bacher, nine years Michael Bachcr
seventeen years; Mary Bacher, min
years Mary Cockaine, n grand -daugl
ter, four years. The family were Gen
,, mans and had lived in the countr
until within the past year.