Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-09-08
A FATAL BLAZE.
suits in the Death of Five Persons and
the Serious Injury of q Number of 9th

suits in the Death of Five Persons and
the Serious Injury of q Number of 9th
ers.
BOSTON, Aug. q.
A small fire at the north end Sunday morn
ing resulted in the loss of five lives. Such
a great sacrifice of human life by fire has
not been known in this city for years. The
blaze originated in a tenement house at 9
Thatcher court, and, in less than a. hour
after the sounding Of the alarm, was ex-
ti%nguished, with no great damage
to the building. The following is
the list of the dead: Mrs. Fred
erick Savage, Minnie Savage, aged seven
months; Kittie Mclaughlin, aged twelve;
George Mclaughlin, aged thirteen; Thomas
T. Mclaughlin, aged seven. The McLaugh-
Inns were children of James Mclaughlin, a
tenant in the fated building. In addition
to this loss of life Mrs. Sarah Mclaughlin
was so %frightfully burned that She is not ex-
pected to live, and John Savage, a brother
Of Frederick, was severely injured by jump
ing from a second-story window to the pave
ment below. The total number of persons
living in the house was nineteen
The origin of the fire was at first sup
posed to have come through the explosion
of a lamp, but subsequent investigations by
the police brought to light the fact that
John and Fred Savage had been drinking
heavily, and becoming involved in all angry
dispute the lamp had been used as
az missile and exploded, causing
the blaze which followed. Flynn, a
lamp-lighter, residing at 4 Thatcher court,
upon arising Sunday morning heard the
quarrel between the Savages, one of them
shouting: "Don't throw that lamp at me! ~
Then he heard a crash. Soon after
came the alarm of fire. Fred Savage was
arrested at noon. Later in the day John
Macintosh, of 81 Howard street, was also
arrested. He was supposed to have been
with the Savages Wien the quarrel &C.
Cured.
Avisit to the scene of the disaster showed
that the damage, aside from the loss of life,
was slight. In a second story of the build.
!. ing, in a little front room, was poor James
Mclaughlin, surrounded by sympathizine
friends. lie was almost heart-brokcn. The
charred bodies of three of his children were
in their collins beforehim, while his wife lay
suffering the agonies of death at the city
hospital. Telling the story of the fire, ht
said that when he awoke the flames were
sweeping up the stairway. Two of his boy.
he got out safely. Then lie was mortified
to see George on the roof, where lie hat
crept through a skylight. With the help o.
others the father held a sheet and told the
boy to jump. In addition to his burns
however, the boy received injuries Which
caused his death. The mother was almost
frantic, and would have plunged into the
flames i'll the endeavor to save her children
had she not been held back even after being
seriously burned.
In tine upper story of a small front room
We're Mr.. and Mrs. Frederick Savage, q
babe seven months old, and Katie Nc
L4aughlin. What TRANSFERRED in that cham,
Der of death prior to the fire will neverNbe
known unless Frederick Savage chooses tc
tell the story. He deserted his family
without any attempt to save them,
When the fircmen arrived they could heal
the screams of Mrs. Savage, and faint cries
of her babe, and then shrieks of little Katie
Mclaughlin, who pleaded: cob, save me,
mamma; for Gods sake, save mel" john
Savage escaped with injuries by leaping
from a rear window. He claims that he
Went to bed at ten o'clock, and blew out the
lamp before retiring. When lie awoke the
flames were underfull Roadway.