Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-11-05
COAL OIL HORROR.
Three Girls BURNED to Derx}h.
Fire Last Might and Inquest To.dav.

II X
rom box 50 was for the discovery OF Gre In
ONE frame shanties IN an al,ey between I,
md VI and 1sth and tn streets northwest.
'wned by Lewis Cox, colored. Owing 70
he irs'ammable material of the buildings
an1 contents, they were nearly consumed
before the J. remen arrived. /. A most terrible
az paintal Incident of the IRE was the burn
ag o, Ilree young girls who were sleeping in
Mrs. Cook. The victims were Louisa John
son, aged rs, ROsanna Cook, Is years, and
sarah COOK, II years OF age II seems that
lamp 10 go from the front room TO the kitchen.
Her husband was sleeping on lounge at Pc
time In the room she left. When in the act
hand holding it was seized with CT ANN.
causing the lamp tor fall and break o n the
cooking stove, which was nearly red lot. 10
ROOM WAS FILLED WITH FLAaEs.
Mrs. Cook screamed and aroused her bus
band, who, in his confusion endeavored to
sufiOcate the flames by piling clothes, car
To escape. During the few minutes occup ed
III this act and in arousing the nei ShbOrs, the
fIe had communicated to the rooms above,
and when the danger to the girls was thought
OF IL wes too ate 10 save them, the fire hay-
ing enVeloped the whole house. The Occu-
pants OF the tirst hOor-Mr. and Mrs. Cook
Mrs. Emily Johnson little boy named
George Cook, and a son of Mrs. JohusoI-
mad barely time 10 arouse tuemSeI YES an :
escape. As IL was Mr.. Cook was severely
burned about the face aud hands in his en-
beavers To smother the flames at the out
start.
TOO LATE.
The fire was discovered by the fremen OF
No. eL CINE mouse, and an alarm was turned
IN from that point. Tue engine started i'm
mediately. but on the arri val OF the company
II was inpQssible to prevent the almost total
destruction OF the shanties or to rescue the
children. The impression seemed to have
been entertained by Mr.. and Mrs. Cook that
the girls had escaped from the house, which
explains why the effort was not at first made
TO look after them. When Mrs Cook was In
formed of their horrible fate, her cries We're
continuous and heartreDding.
TWO OF THE DEAD BODIES
were discovered after the flames were sub
dued, the flesh being nearly burned FROM the
bones, making IL impossible TO recognize
them. The two adjoining shanties were very
much damaged, but the fireInen prevented
the spread of the flames.
The alarm and the brilliant light caused a
large crowd OF spectators To assemble, and
THE EXCITEMENT WAS VERY GREAT
when IL became known that three little girls
had been burned, many giving vent to ex-
preSslons OF sympathy and pity. The two
ruins and placed in cOfffus, and this morning
the remains of the third one were dug out
and all were removed To Lieutenant Greer's
station, on X. between 2ist and 22i streets
and the coroner notified.
The Inquest.
About II o'clock Coroner Patterson repair-
cd TO the station and empannelled a jury OF
inquest as follows: ChRies Il. Candy Ed
WIN campbell, lanes Quinn; James Green,
Henry p. Cuttell and Edward f wards. The
jury viewed the remains of the charred bod
les, which had been taken from the wagon
ard placed in the dodgers room of the sta
ton, and retired to the sitting room where
the testimony was taken.
TESTIMONY OF THE FATHER.
Lewis Cook, father OF two of the children,
was the first witness, and testified that he
SlPeDInU a N IA
lower floor. His wife was engaged in sew
ing, and when she got ready to retire, took
the lamp and went into the kitchen to close
mp the house. She returned, and on reach
Ing to place the lamp on the mantel, it fell
from her hand on the stove, and Immediate
" ignited. Her screams awoke him, and he
jumped mp and caught blanket to try and
smother the flames, but could not do il.
Some clothing was hanging on the stair
case and IL caught ire, which prevented his
going up stairs. He ran out and hallOOei for
heIp. and got on the shed to try and get TO
the children, but the fire and smoke drove
him back, and he had to abandon the At
tempt By the time that the neighbors were
aroused IL was too late TO save his children.
THE MOTHERS TESTIMONY.
catherine Cook, wife OF Lewis and mother
Of all the children, gave about the same tes-
tlmOny. and stated that she heard one OF the
girls cry mother, Oh! mother" She could
do nothing herself.
OTHER TESTIMONY.
Cornelius Clark testified that he heard the
70 the place, and was among the first who
arrived. Found the house completely envel-
CTtd III flames and smoke. Tried to get a
ladder 10 place up TO the windows, but could
find none. He heard no cries from the chill
dren ard came tn the conclusion that they
had got out. Thought they most have
smnthered. rendering them incapable OF
making any cutlery.
THE VERDICT.
No more witnesses were heard, and the
jury. after a few moments elaboration, rem
dered verdict ~ death by accidental burn
ing.
TERRIBLE AND PIrIFuL SCENE.
The crowd OF cOlored persons about the sta
ton nom morning until about half-past IL
O'Clock was very great, all striving TO get a
view OF the charred remains, which presented
a sickenirg and horrible appearance. The
ciotbirg, hair and nearly all the flesh was
burned of the bodies, leaving some of the
bones exposed where the flesh had dropped
of in their removal. II was impossible to
recognize one from the other, except by the
length of tie corpses. The lamentations of
the friends of the unfortunate family as they
viewed the dreadful sight could be heard for
some distance.
At 1870 o'clock Lieut. Greer gave orders
that no more visitors be admitted, and word
was sent TO the Board of Health for collins In
which 10 place the bodies for burial, which
VIII be done at the expense of the District as
the surviving relatives have lost everything
they posses sed by the fire, and are really OBJ
jecfs OF cOmmisseratiOn and charity. The
victims OF the disaster will be buried this
evening.
SUIT AGAINST THE b. & o. RAILROAD
To- day, MIR. Michael Thompson. for Maglina