The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-11-04
a SAD, SAD STORY.


Another Incident OF the ChFengo Fire:
The papers al! over the country continue
to TEEN with accounts Of and Incidents con-
necied with the great fire in Chicago. None
sadder, however, has been told than that re-
lated at the may OT's Office in this city this
morning by a little boy. who says that both
his father aud mother pershed in the flames,
and that he himself barely escaped with his
life. The little fellow, who is eleven years
OF age. says that his name is George Howard.
His father and mother lived IN New York
until about two months ago, when they re-
moved 10 Chicago. There the father started
in the merchant tailoring business and was
getting along quite well when the great fire
started. They lived Oh Randolph street. and
when they retired to bed on the second night
Of the couflaeration. the fire was rot within
a great distance Of their house and there was
OF course no fears entertained in that locality
of the flames. George says he was aroused
from his sleep by the heat, and when he
opened his eyes found their building TO be
on fire aud the windows already in flames:
/ He jumped up. awakened his father aud
mother and fold them the whole house was
| on fire. The heat at this time was intense.
and the little fellow managed to save himself
by jumping through one Of the burning win
dOws. which was on the second story, down
on to the pavement below. There he wait
ed, expecting his father and mother could
also escape by jumping from the windows.
But they were never seen afterward. In less
time almost than it takes to tell il the build
ing was a crumbling mass. The next morn
ing, the little fellow states. he found the
bones Of his father and mother lying under
the ruins.
He was now an orphan, and having been
in Chicago but month, knew no orc. The
only relative he had was an uncle. trapper.
who,e home was in ST. Louis, but when last
heard from was in Philadelphia, and he de-
termined to make an effort to get to him
lie came across gentleman going to PhiIa.
deli phia, whose name he said was John Nell
son, and lie agreed to pay his fare on. They
took train On the Erie railroad, and the
conductor, to whom he related his story, took
pity on him and purchased him q neat suit
of clothes. The little fellow, when be es-
capped from the burning building, was in his
uight>clothes. and he had obtained only suf-
fcient old clothing to cover himself
When they arrived in Philadelphia George
found that his uncle had left but a short time
previous for St. Louis. Mr.. Nelson l5ft him
/ on Market street aud told him to 60 up to
/ the Pennsylvania railroad depot, relate his
story to the officials and they would pass
F Il.
to the depot, but they disbelievsd his story
/ and wouldn't give him pass. He then
started to walk tow ard Harrisburg, expect
/ ing that he would come across somebody
/ that could send him 10 his destination. He
walked all the way from Philadelphia to
/ Harrisburg without getting any assistance,
/ being ten days on the Journey. He said that
/ he begged victua!s at the farm houses, and
slept in the woods at night. The latter. he
said, did not come very hard on him, as he
/ once went with his uncle on q trapping eIN
/ pedition in Western Missouri, wber he had
/ to camp out at night. lie reached Harris
burg day before yesterday, " hen be got on
/ a freight train and stole ride to Altoona.
/ There he related his story to the railroad Of
/ fcials, and Mr. A. j. CassGtt, general SUPER
/ intendent Of the road. provided him with 6
! pass to Pittsburgh, with instructions that
when lie arrived here he should be turned
over to the relief Committee of the Chicago
! fire fund, who, if they believed his story TO
! be true one, could have him sent on to his
/ destination. The boy arrived here this morn
/ ing. aud called at the mayors ofice, where
! be related his story rs given above to Mayor
/ Brush aud the relief committee.
Little George is bright, intelligent lad
1 and told his story very smoothly. When
! the names of his father and mother were
| mentioned. the tears came into his eyes
! The boy was closely questioned, wi a view
| to seeing whether be was really telling the
! truth or not, and be answered everything SO
/ quickly and vet with such childlike simpli-
| city that 30 doubts were left upon the minds
/ of his hearers that he was telling the truth.
/ Mr.. Moorhead. Of the relief committee, has
procured him pass to St. Louis. and aill
/ provide him with means enough to see him
! on there comfortably. The little f,llow v III
/ start there this afternoon. He says his m
/ Gle resides one mile out of St. Louis, and
/ that he will have no difficulty IN finding him.
/ as he was at his house at the time be started
/ with him on the trapping expedition to
/ Western Missouri Pittsburgh Leader, Oct.
( 28th.