The New York herald., 1879-12-24
SHOCKING CATASTROPHE.

THREE CHILcREN BURNED TO DEATH IN SIGHT
HELP THEM.
A FIRE. in which three children burned to
death. took plsce near the village of Eayrostown.
Burlington county. N. j.. last Sunday morning The
catastrophe occurred ON the farm of Mr. James w.
Allen, where his overseer. Matthew Gleason and
family. occupied . low two story frame
house. Gleason and his wife slept in apart
ment Immediately the kitchen, while their
children-John. Margaret and James. aged respec-
lively ten. seven and two ycars-occupied another
sleeping room. also on the second floor. Early in
the morning. it appears Gleason was awakened by .
cracking noise, and he became aware that tho
room was filed with smoke. Springing from his
bed he opened the door leading to the stairway. but
was driven back by a sheet of flame and
q dense cloud OF smoke. He at aroused
his wife, and, half dragging her. they both
qroped their way through the smoke and flame.
which had by this time completely filled the room.
to = window. through which they escaped out of the
fiery furnace to the ground The ferceness Of the
flames may be estimated when 1t is stated that the
night clothing OF Mrs. Gleason was found to be
on fire after she had jumped for her life
Meantime the excessive heat and noise from the
devastating element had awakened the three children.
who appeared at an upper window crying franticaly
for assistance, and 1t Is said that their agonized
shrieks heard by the parents above the roaring
of the flames At sight of her doomed little the
poor mother gave loud, mporing cry and then foil
backward In q sWoOn. As there was no ladder
ut hand the distracted father seized q pole and
with it attempted to raise the window sash that
Che children could jump out into his arms. His
efforts vain. however, as the sash had been
fastened with nails security against the winter
blasts, ana the almost crazcd father compelled
to gaze upon his loved ones. ~ they. wrapped
in fire and smoke fell backward into the incandes-
cent mass.
vRIaHrPUL SITUATION.
Pitiful, indeed, the situation OF the parents
as they their children swallowed up by the
merciless hre demon. Neither Gleason nor his wife
had on any clothing but their night clothes. Tho
weather intensely cold, and the distance to the
nearest neighbor not less than quarter of
mile. Tho lurid light from tho burning house
ncighborhood. but before they could reach tho
spot the building had been entirely consumed. Later
IN the day, and after the ruins nad partially cooled
some sympathizing neighbors instituted a search
and found few fragments OF charred human
bones, which placed together in one coffin for
tnterment.
1t is stated that the fire originated in a shed
attached to the kitchen, where q hrc was usually
kept burning during the night and IL is believed that
the fire commu ncated to the shed through some
defect in the chimney. At the Coroner's inquest
Gleason and his wife were the principal witnesses,
and the jury, after hearing tho circumstances as
above related, rendered verdict of accidental
death" The melancholy affair has cast gloom
ever the entire community in that section of Now
Jersey and great sympathy is felt for Gleason and
his wife, both OF whom have always borno
excellent reputation among their neighbors The
father had been In the employ of Mr.. Allen for Sow
eral years, and. through industry and attention.
worked his way up from the grade of an ordinary
farm laborer to the post OF ovcrseer or superintend
dent. His two younger children, Margaret and
James, were born In the house where they were
DESTROYED.