The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-06-05
A Farm III )use Burned near New
tOnyiIIe-Three Children Perish in
the Flames.

+@eAAG n 1sA@%@NSo
One of the most heartrending disss-
tiers that we have ever been called upon
20 chronicle occurred last night about
twelve o'clock, one mile south of the
village of Newtonville, this county, in
the burning Of the residence of farmer
named Robert Jones, and the death Of
three Of his children by suffocation- We
have learned the following particulars OF
the sad affair from persons living near
the scene of the disaster: The house oc-
cupied by Mr.. Jones and family was a
one story and half structure, one hall
constructed of hewed logs and the other
nalf frame. The frame part was built
about three years ago, at which time the
log part was repaired. A stairway lead
ing to the upper story divided the lower
part into two rooms. On the south side
L porch ran the whole length ofthe house;
and on the east end of the porch was the
kitchen, where had been the only fire in
the house during the day, and after sup
per this fire had been allowed TO go out
The family consisted of Robert Jones,
wife and four children, Eddie, Nelson,
Tohn and Maggie, aged thirteen, eleven,
eight and six, respectively. Last even
ing Mr.. and Mrs. Jones went to a neigh
boris house, William Mauk's, about a
half mile south west of their residence
TO set up with Mr.. Mauk who has been
sick for some time past, leaving their
four children at home with instruction.
;or them to retire at their usual hour
About nine o'clock the children with a
lighted candle, went up stairs to bed.
All occupied the same chamber, the one
in the new part of the building, and all
retired at the same time. About twelve
1'clock Nelson, the second boy, was
| awakened he does not know how, but he
jumped out of bed, ran to the stair door
md as he threw it open, discovered that
he stairway was full of smoke. He re-
,losed the door and at once awakened his
brothers and sister, and explained the
| situation of. affairs to them. The chill
lren agreed that they could not escape
by the stairs, Nelson proposed that they
should jump ont the window, which was
twelve or fourteen feet from the ground
Ehe eldest boy, Eddie, objected TO this
tlleging that they ~ould get hurt. Mel
son then tried to persuade his. sister tc
Jump with him, but the little girl wa:
lfraid to make the attempt. and he threw
up the sash and leaped out alone. A.
soon as the boy struck the ground he
found that the lower story of the house
was afire, and manfully determined up
on rescuing his brothers and sister. He
at once started for the barn to secure 9
ladder, but found upon entering that II
was gone; he then ran to neighbor''
house, about three hundred yards away
awakened the family and as soon as poss
ibIe returned to the house, by that time
enveloped in flames.
The father and mother had reached
the house before Nelson got back, and
the mother, comprehending the situa'
ton, ut once made an effort to reach hel
children, whose cries she heard before
reaching the house. The stricken wo-
man was forced to retreat by the intense
heat, and was only prevented from max.
ing another attempt by the appearance
of the neighbor who had been aroused
by her boy. The father, who has been
subject to epilepsy, upon reaching the
house, was at once seized with an attack
and fell to the ground, utterly helpless
in which condition he remained up to the
hour (eight o'clock this morning) oui
informant left the scene of the disaster
The building with its contents, except
ing few articles of furniture, and three
children-viz: Eddie, John and Maggie
were destroyed. This morning search
was made for the remains of the chill
dren, bat all that could be found was a
few charred bones There are various
theories as to the origin of the FIRE, but
the one generally accepted is, that the
children, in going to bed set something
on fire in the stairway, probably an art
icle of clothing hanging on the partition,
which burned slowly, and communicat-
ed to the woodwork about the sta irs.
This terrible disaster falls with crush
ing weight upon the stricken parents,
and causes the most intense excite
ment throughout the section of country
about Newtonville. A very large num-
her of persons visited the scene ri the
terrible conhagration this morning.
ZanesviNe Courier, 30th uh.
A Fearful Plot Frustrated.
News reached the Titusville C,nrier