National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-11-03
HOLOCAUST,


Three Children Hurne ed 70 DEATH.
ABOUT l2ilo O'Clock p. m. saturday a colored
woman named Annie Watkins, who occupied A
rude shanty trflistance from the yirulni,
end OF the Aqueluct bridge with her three chill.
drcn, the Oldest being six years and tho young
est eighteen months, klndled Ere Ia the stoye.
and, after putting the children 10 bed, proceeded
to AsncN's coal wharf, Georgetown, where she
was In tho habit Ut carrying cooked meals TO
sunniy tue labUring men on the whuTYe4. She
hat hardly reached tho wharf when, on looking
haSS IN the direction Of tho house, she discoy.
efed u to be In names. She Immediately hurried
to the scene, but before reaching II the house
was completely consumed, and her
THREE LITTLE CHILDREN BURNED TO DEATH.
A eolored man named Morris Gallery, living 10
the house adjoining tho scene Of disaster, on
seeing the ilamcg made an effort to rescue the
children, but his efforts were unaya!ling. No
one seems to have been aware Of the existence
Of the nlmes, although several houses are 10
Morfis Gallery, one OF Inc nearest neIghpors Of
Mrs. Watkins, was working In his cabbage patch
a. me time, with his back toward the doomed
three helpless children were being
ROASTED ALIVE,
AMI whom he could have easily rescued had he
had early intimatlon vi the IRE. Ills attention
was called to rho burning building By the shadow
OF the smoke passing over the ground on which
he was working, and turning round he was hnr-
rinci to mud aiInes issuing from the window Of
the Watkins dwelling. lie Immediately sounded
an alarm, ant rushing against the front door,
which was fastened, he forced II open. THIS
room was iiilcd with smoke, but Gallery pcne-
trated to the door leading into the back room In
which tue children were. Upon opening this
1t impossible for him TO render any Assistance
whatever to the burning children, and he was
forced to retire In order 10 save himself, leaving
the children to thclT Inevitable fate.
TIE uorE
height, and constructed Of rough boards. By
the time Gallery discovered the names they had
fully enveOpel the rear part OF the house and
had, beyond doubt, consumed the children before
his attention was arrested. Gallery heard no out
cries whatever, and II IL probable that the
children were suffocated blythe smoke before
being consumed by the tre. Not vestlge OF the
house Is left, and the only evidence that human
habtatlon rested upon tho blackened site was
the charred remains OF the three little martyrs
that were sorrowiully, gathered up by. the
ag0n3ed mother, placed In rude box aud car
RED to the house Of q relative In teorYetowp,
preparatory to interment.
Mrs. Watkins, the mother OF the children, Is
represented by her nelRhbors Us sober aud In.
dustrious woman, who gave her little family all
| the care aud attention that her humble means
permitted. Her husband has been absent for
some time in distant part OF Virginia, working
On farm, being unable TO obtain employment
IN this vicinity. Perhaps necessity compelled
the mother TO put forth an effort 10 obtain ready
means TO feed her little ones, aud while thus
engaged In her
WORK or MATERNAL love
the angel Of death, on wings OF IRE, allRhtcl on
her humble home and Ia few brief inmates
consumed all that she held dear on earth, Who
shall the feelings OF that terribly stricken
mother upon realizing the extent OF her arlic-
tione Maternal love Is not confined to the higher
classes Of society any more than corporal sur
ferlng Is confined to the human family, and II Il
he true that .'the poor beetle we tread upon In
corporal punishment suffers as much as when a
giant dies" that humble, tOilinp dark.skInned