Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-12-29
HOLOCAUST.
Terrible Calamity, In Which Five
Lives are Lost.
A Father, Awakened by the Fire that's Con,
suming His House, Attempts 10
Rescue His Children, and all
Perish in the Flames.
THE MOTHER AHELPLEss SPECTATOR
Special TO the Register.

Bvvvp1y, w. Va, December 26.-one Oh
Tho most fripbtful calamities that ever oc-
cprTed in Randolph County happened ias'
night wherein five human beings were ii'
erally roasted alive. The facts OF this ter
rble catastrophe are about as follows,
Mr. Adam Currence, an industrious anu
estimable citizen, residing with his family
consisting of himself and wife and six chill
dren, previous to this sad and unfortunate
occurrence, some twenty miles south Oh
Beverly, in Valley Head District, and on
the Western slope OF Cheat Mountain. Ar.
Charles Channel, near neighbor OF Cur
rance had been very low with some
Complicated Disease
which required the attendance OF some one
day and night. Mr.. Currence had peen
yory attentive to him, going over at night
and sitting up with him, and had been 50
constant and faithful in his attendance on
his neighbor that the loss of sleep and Ia
t;pue conseouen thereto compelled him TO
remain at home last night and take the
much needed rest he required; bis wlIe
advised him to stay at home and she Woulu
take the two smallest children ana go over
and sit up with Channel. what occurreu
after she left is not known, but late IN tne
n;obt narties at Channels discovered that
Currence's
House Was on Fire,
and those who could do so lett lmmediate-
Iy for the scene OF contagratlon, incluuins
Mrs. Currence, who returned TO nef NOME
with sad heart and some mlsSlVlnss VI VI
the terrible scene which was soon 10 De
presented to her gaze. BY the time the
narties reached the house the building had
fallen in, and was consuming CurIence and
four of his children. The sickenlng slght
of five human beings being roasted peiore
Them was more than the stoutest heat OIL
the spectstors could stand, and as render
ing assistance was out of the question, they
had TO stand calmly by and see them per.
isb, Mrs. Currence was frantic with griel
and ....
In Her Frenzy
rnshed into the flames to bring out the
charred remains of her dear ones, ana nc
doubt would have shared their fate II sue
had not have been rescued by those pres
ent, and as it was she received some severe
burns. ,,...
fire but il is supposed that after Currence
retired, being nearly worn out from the
loss of sleep, that he fell into heavy
slumber, and while in that condition log
from the fire rolled on the floor. He be
ing the only one sleeping in that room, th'
other four children occupying the room W
stairs, the log set the lower part on hre anc
| gained
Considerable Headway
| hefore he was awakened, and when he die
awake and find the room in flames his hrs
Thoughts were for his children above, ant
he went up to arouse them, and all sutfo
Gated before they could reach the lowe
floor. Mr.. Currence was we'll and fayora
bly known in the county, having been
few years ago member OF t9e countii
co1rf. He was a gallant Confederate sol
dier, and served through the war in TIT
Thirty-first Virginia regiment. He was
brother to Col. Melvin Currence, OF Hut
louisville.