The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-06-28
AN APPALLING ACCIDENT.
THREE PERSONS BURNED TO
DEATH

WALLED IN BY FIRE THREE YOUNG AND
PROMISING PEOPLE.
The Marietta (Ohio) Register reports the
horrible details of the burning of three
cousins of Miss Cunningham Of this city.
noted briefly by the Sentinel at the time.
One OF the most terrible cslsmities that
has ever occurred In this community hap
pened last Thursday night or FRIDAY morn
ing, near Cedsrville in Belpre, two miles
below Psrkersburg. Calvin Leseur was
awakened from his sleep about II O'Clock
at night and discovered that the
house in which he lived was
on fire; he rushed from his room,
passing through the sitting room to the
kitchen, which was on fire; he attempted
10 go up stairs to wake his two daughters
and son, but the fire and smoke drove him
back, and he had to abandon the attempt,
but not until his face and hands Were
scorched. bis hair and whiskers singed.
Then he called to Ada, saying: 1.-The house
is on fire." She answered aud ssi6: "Pa.
bring ladder to the window"
Mr.. Leseur ran to cherry
tree near by and brought the
ladder, put it to her window, assembled
IL as soon as be could and called for tue
girls, but could get no answer. The smoke
and not flames rolled out of the window
aud drove him back; when he reached the
ground hope turned to dispair and he be-
came frantic for the safety of bis children.
Mrs. SANFORD DOwner arrived; she had
heard Ada call for a ladder. Mr.. D3wner
also. arrived and attempted to make t5e
window, but it was too late. By this time
the community was alarmed and came
RUBBING To THE SCENE OF DISASTER.
Mr.. Leseur was now nearly crazy: some
one OF his friends got some clothing on
him and took him to the house of George
W. Hensly. Some one suggested that they
send for Mr.. E. E. Cunningham, Mr..
Leseur's brother-ir-lsw. messenger
was sent to his house about a halt mile
Stsnt. The terrible news was told,
and the scene that followed as different
members of the family were awakened
was beyond description shrieks and cries
OF deepest anguish filled the house; all
hearts were stricken with deepest grief
as soon as possible they started for the
scene, some falling by the way, others
pursuing their course fast possible,
hoping that the news was not
true. Mrs. Cunningham arrived at the
scene and fell from exhaustion, ard il Was
with the greatest difficulty that her life WIS
preserved (she is troubled with heart dis
easel; the excitement was too greet, and she
also was carried to Mr.. HeBsly's. Some OF
the neighbors, Ebene zsr Ripley, MIR. Ollum
and l.. ID. Ratf burn volunteered TO haul
water aud try and save the bodies from
Being entirely burned up. This was
about 2 o'clock A. M, and by o'clock the
bodies were all recovered. Ella was the
first taken from the burning Goals; the ex-
element was great. A few moments more
and the body of James was found. The
body of Ada was also found, but the heat
was so great she could not be reached I'M
I'll the second load uf water was hauled.
The three loads of water that had been
brought were exhausted; two more loads
OF water were hauled, and Mr.. Rsthburn,
John Decide and George Wolcot
SUCCEEDED IN OBTAINING THE BODY,
but not until the head and arms were
burned off, and the limbs below the knees.
Side by side laid the chsrred remains
OF two sisters and their only brother. Ada
was in her 25th year, Ella 81 next August,
James 10 last April. The fire, no doubt,
was the work of an incendiary. Mrs. Lee
seur was not at home= she WAS at the widow
McClure's visiting some friends. The house
| fronted north with two rooms on the ground
| floor and kitchen on south side, with
pantry on south end. Mr.. Leseur was
| sleeping on ground floor in northwest
room; the stairs came do WI over his room
and landed in the kitchen. James slept
up stairs over his fathers room and the
east end of the house up stairs was divided
into two rooms, the young ladies occu-
plying the northeast room and at the win
dow of this room was where Ada
called for the ladder. From the ap-
pesrsnce of the deceased, it seems
as though they died in one an
others arms; Mr.. Leseur's children were
| the only near relatives of Mrs. Cunning
ham and Mrs Montgomery living. The
| funeral took place at 9 A. NJ. Saturday
morning at Lewis Chspsl. The Rev. Mr..
Carter of the Baptist Church. the Rev. T.
81. Bradrick, pastor, and E. Ii. Dixon,
elder OF Marietta district, made very ap-
| propriate remarks. The choir sang the
642d hymn OF the Methodist hymn book.
| The remains were taken to Turkey Hen,
| and all nnried in the same grave.