The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-26
SAVED, BUT SUFFERING.

Marrow Escape OF Ex-Dfstrict Attorney
Garvfn and His Daughter from Being
Burned to Death-Thc Pluck and Cool.
ness Of the Father Saves tho Lives Of
Both.
The great loss OF human life by recent fires. The
excitement created thereby, the opening Of the
peoples eyes to the fact that life in establishments
OF all kinds in this city Is so shameiuly unpro-
tected, as developed by the recent investigations
OF the HERALD Commissioners and by the findings
OF public officials suddenly aroused to sense Of
duty, have tended to keep the public mind In
ferment OF excitement. Almost daily from one
quarter another tales Of the loss OF life By
lre mood storm, and the public Is spared to-day
the recital OF another story OF the loss OF the life OF
most estimable young lady only By the GOODNESS
and determination OF fond father under most
trying circumstances.
The story, however, as far as 1t goes, ID bad
enough.
Ex-District Attorney Darwin, while sitting quietly
in his library on Friday evening" deeply engaged In
adding to his already welistocked mind points
and problems OF the intricacies OF the law was
startled from his lsbors by series Of
MOST nEARrRENDMa sHRIEKs,
which proceeded from the upper portion of tho
house. Without time for thought he bounded from
his chair, and, despite his age and weight was at
the third story almost In an instant On throwing
open the door OF the front room. whence tho
shrieEs continued to come, he beheld his wife
almost in Mysteries and his beloved daughter May
standing In the middle of the room enveloped In
names. TO seize her, throw her on the bed
wrap her closely In the bedclotning was
but the work OF moment The venerable
gentleman worked with q determination, aided BY
desperation to not only save the life, but preserve
thu comehness Of his darling Child. That he sue
ceded the sequel plainly shows; but In his efforts
he himself was severely but fortunately, not dan
ger0usly injured about the hands and arms. the
as q
were both on Gre, and great danger that 1t woosd
result in setting
he lifted the precious burden from the burning bed
completed the work Of smothering the fre on the
names, which were rapidly spreading over the rich
mattresses and carpeting on the moor, and had
already burned through the side board OF the heavy
mahogany Dedstead.
The young lady sufferer aided her. father as well
as she could In smotheripg the flames on her
clothing. The mother was so overcome with ter
ror and excitement az to be able to render but
little aid, while the servants rushed htther and
to each other to help in putting out the nre, and
in their earnest efforts were more or less Obstruct
ing the accomplishment OF the very object they
When at length the fire was fully extinguished
and comparative quiet had been restored,
THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE
was inquired into. 1t appears that Miss May Gar
vim was dressing TO attend an evening party at the
residence or Judge Barbour. she was Iully rODeO,
and, while her mother was engaged in giving some
little extra setting to the aces or jewery with
which her pet was adorned, or, as the ladies might
say. in "titivating' her or little more she sud
denly discovered that her underskirts were on dro
and the flames rapidly creeping up her heavy silk
evening Dress
'OH! MOTHER, I'm ON FIRE."
she shrieked The full horror Of the situation was
at once revealed to the mother SO great was her
terror that she could do nothing but shrek and
scream for help. Fortunately Mr.. Garvin was at
home, and heard the cries as above noted. 1t Ia
presumed that Miss Garvin must have trOdden on
match, which, becoming ignited set fire to the
skirts, which rested on the ground and thus almost
added another to the already too great list OF lives
lost by fire.
THE DAMAGES AND LOSSES
were speedily canvassed, when 1t was found that
Miss Garvin was badly burned about the knees and
limbs. Mr.. Garvin was also badly burned on both
hands and arms. The bed, bedding and carpet are
destroyed, but this loss is scarcely regarded Tho
family physician was speedily summoned, and the
appropriate lotions and dressings applied. Both
Mr. Garvin and his daughter suffered intensely dur
Ing the night the former being unable to sleep or
even lie down to rest. The excitement OF the
scene through which he had passed tended to dis
turb his mind. and, together with the torturIng
bodily PAIN, rendered sleep and rest strangers to
him, for that night at least.