The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-01-15
The Crushed SchOoI-house Oh, lewis
River.

Last Friday January Sth. \. D. 1850, is
recorded times, and the storms of Italy are
nothing to us compared with the misery
produced here on the above date when one
of the most horrible and heart rendng scenes
that ever came to view on this coast pre-
scented itself to our sight A large tree three
feet in diameter fell across the school-house
in the Bartlett school district one and half
miles northeast of La Center Twcnty-four
persons, including the teacher, Mrs. \. L.
Roper-two visitors and twenty-oue schol-
ars-werc in the i'll fatcd house. The school
and after consultation it was thought that
there was but one tree that could possibly
reach the house, but on last Friday at -
o'clock, while Mrs. Roper with her happy
little band of pupils were consuming the
frugal meal comfortably around a warm stove
in the center of the house, that one identical
tree came down across the house with n
crash, tearing, MASKING and breaking the
house and stove into 4 million fragments,
killing two children, badly wounding three,
besides iniur.ng the remainder present.
The tree cane with such force that all in
the house were knocked sonsclcss. Frank
Briggs was the first to recover from uncon-
seriousness and aroused the teacher and the
larger boys. Mr.. Lawton seeing the tree
fall was soon there, and with his assistance
the large boys carried water to quench the
fire that had caught from the stove, AMI
thus saved the children from burning TO
death. until assistance could be had.
Mr.. John W. Bartlett had eight children
at school, two OF whom were killed. Three
are thought to be mortally wounded. two
slightly wounded, and one uuhurt Alice,
his oldest daughter, Is years old, received
quite an injury on the face and shoulders
Ruth, aged II years, is reported as having
her skull injured, her shoulder blade broken,
her lower limbs badly bruised and burned -
the tree falling across her TIL chs, and being
burned by the fire before eNtinguished. She
is considered convalescent. The tree was
sawed twice before Ruth could be oXtricatol.
Emma, aged l., escaped with but slight in
jury. Elmer, aged 49, was horribly mutt
lated, having - square inches Of scalp taken
off the top OF his head, his face terribly
scratched and otherwise dangerously hurt
inwardly Elmer after receiving these
wounds. walked half mile home. His own
father replaced the scalp and seved it to its
proper place, and he is doing well and will
likely recover. Olive. aged 9 years, WAS
supposed to have been instantly killed, as
she was directly under the tree and rubbish
and was never heard to speak after the
crash. Milton, aged years, received a Sc
we're cut over the lett eye and ear, and had
his left side, leg and arm burnt TO a blister.
Alex, years old, was taken ont from IN
der the tree and debris dead, after all the
rest were safe from the flames The father
of the child sent 10 the house TO ascertain
where his son was, and finding no Alex at
the house where he was supposed TO have
gone, gave another search in the fatal wreck
for his lost child, and he was found as above
stated lie was heard to cry sometime dur
ING the excitement. which led Us to believe
he was not killed Instantly. Clara, aged s..
received but few scratches, and is consid.
cred not hurt
Mr. NJ Anderson had four children at
school, all of whom were hurt but more
badly. W. A. johnson also. had five chill.
dron in the Inflated school-housc, but
they seem not to be dangerously hurt. J.
/. Gathers two children were but slightly
hurt his LITTLE girl Clara had her fac