The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-11-05
DISASTROUS FIRE IN BURLINGTON, IOWA.
-Four Persons Burned Aiise--A Fathers Uevo-
lion Unto Denth--A Yonng Mans Loss oil
Presence Of Mind.
from the Burlington Haw keye,

From the Burlington Hawkeye, oct aol
About two O'Clock on Saturday morning an alarm
OF ire was sounded. The danes were discovered
In the rear OF the old two story frame BUILDING on
the north side Of Washington street. Tue east
side OF the alley, between Ann and Front streets,
After protecting the adjacent property, the streams
OF the engines We're turned upon the burning bald
Ing lWnich was Impossible TO savc), and in ave
minutes the flames had been SO nearly smothered
out that 1t became necessary TO light the gas IN the
street lamp on the alley corner TO enable the Grcmen
and cilizens TO proceed with the terrible task that
now lay before them-that Of eXhumng from
the smoking ruins the charred remains OF
four human beings who had persisted in the
flames From the evidence developed at
the Coroner's conrt II appears that Michael Bacher,
tiers were confined TO their beds with intermittent
fever, and that tue parents and six children occ-
pied the front room on the second floor, wi,iie son.
Philip Bacher, slept Ia an adjoining room back OF
them, called the middle ROOM The third room upon
the second floor was unoccupied. Back OF the saloon
IN which cooking stoves, with pipe running
through che ceiling. Kndling and wood were some
times placed about inc stove and In thS oven 70 sea-
but there had been no fire built IN the stove since
tea time on Friday evening, and the evidence LETT
the origin Of the connagration In dtylbt with rea
sonable probability that in some unexplained man
ner, the kndlings and shavlngs caught Arc about
the COOK stove. The saloon was closed at ten r.
NJ, and lamp left burning in the front room where
the SICK persons were taken care Of The fire,
when first discovered, was IN the kitchen part-the
inmates were aroused by the aiarm OF peopl on the
outside Mr.. Bacher awakened hts son Philip In
the middle room, who rushed to the front room and
H.,
them nearly suifocated by the dense smoke made nm
effort to rescue his children. Two OF them he suc
ceeded In putting out through the window, letting
them down as best he could 10 the walk below. by
this time, In his enfeebled condition, ana Nearly
senseless with suGocauon, he attempted his own
escape--climbed out Of the window, auo with the
help OF his son, succeeded In gett ny upon the lad
der bat the hot smoke driving into his face or else
his physical prosiration caused him 10 sway back
and forth for q few seconds IN q helpless con-
dtiOn ana then fall down the ladder to the
ground insensible Other ladders were raised
TO the front windows, but by thi4 Time
the fire and smoke had obtained such
Roadway that no one could enter the room although
several daring spirits made the futile effort. Alter
his father fell 10 the ground the son, Philip who IL
about nineteen years or age, left the family and
went to the stable In the rear, harnessed his TWO
horses and led them out TO place Of safety 1t IL
dstressingy strange circumstance that thus young
should 80 lose his presence OF mind as to leave
the rear room nearest the 1re), pass through the
front room, which was the arthcst from the flames
ct that time and made no eff0rt TO his little
brother and sisters. There were three windows In
'front.' which could have been smashed ont in M ia.
slant and the children HANDED out, tossed to
the pavement below, which, at the worst, would
have been better than burning to DEATH The names
OF the deceased and their ages were:--Sarah Bacier
seventeen years; Mary Bacher, nine years; Aichaei
Bachcr, seven years; Mary C0ckaiDc grand
daughter four years The family were Germa rs
and had lived In the country until wifnin year
past N