The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-03-10
A Mothers Fatal IIeroism.
DETAILS OF THE MARYLAND HOLOCAUST

- II.
A special to the Herald gives the follow
ing details OF the burning OF Mrs. Cronise
and her daughter near Frederick. Md, brief
mention OF which was made in our tee-
graphic columns yesterday: Mr.. Cronse is
a planter. and. with his family, retired
Wednesday night about o O'Clock, leaving
a roaring fire in the kitchon-stoyc, around
which quantity Of wood had been packed
for use in the morning as usual.
About midnight Mr.. Cronise and his
wife, who slept on the second story, were
awakened by the smell OF smoke. The
house was twO-story, old-time log house,
but OF good dimensions. A single stair
way led from the lower 10 the upper story.
On this second floor there slept, besides
Mr.. and Mrs. Cronise, their seven children,
the eldest nineteen and the youngest two,
and an old deaf and dumb man named
IIeury Plumber. Upon awakening Mr..
Cronse rushed down the stairway, and
opening the door was met by n perfect
sheet OF flame. lie realized the position OF
those dependent upon HIM at once, and
closing the door directed his wife to smash
one OF the several small windows about
l6 by 30 inches) and let the smoke escape.
The children. who were all partially suf-
focated, were helped 10y their parents
through the windows, the eldest dropping
to the ground fifteen feet below. Then the
turn Of the little ones came.
Mrs. CroniSc told her husband to jump
from the window, and she would drop the
Younger children down TO him and would
then follow. Mr. CrOnise did as requested,
and all the little ones had safely landed in
their fathers arms but one, tye-year-old
girl, whom her mother had in her arms,
and was Just in the act OF putting out
through the window. Then like flash
the old deaf and dumb man darted between
them and the window, and getting half
way out, hung there in his terror unableio
move, and blocking the window from the
brave mother and child.
The husband and children below in
safety gazed upon the terrible scene. be-
numbcd i'm their night-clothes by the fu-
rious winds. and almost petrilied by terror,
for Mrs. CrOnisc could not reach any other
window. She wildly beat the terrified old
man upon the hands to make him leave his
position and drop to the ground below. so
that she might save herself and her child.
Those below shIieked TO the old man to
drop. but he could not hear. and still hung
and blocked the window, terror-stricken.
The poor woman tore at him madly, but
TO no purpose, for a few moments later she
sank out of her husbands and children's
sight into the flames behind her, her child
caspcd to her bosom. \ moment later
they licked the old mans arms, face, and
chest, and shrivclled his gray hair, when he
seemed to come to life and dropped to the
ground.
When his wife and child sank back in
the flames Mr.. Cronisc made rush for the
house. which WAS then tumbling in, and il
took the united efforts OF his elder boys to
save him from perishing with her. BY this
time few neighbOr, were arriving, one OF
whom-EiZa Hutchinson (cOlored)-toOk
the family, who were almost naked, to her
house, across the hills, and provided them
with n0urshment and clothing.
As soon as daylight came search was
made through the ashes for the remains OF
the lost, and they were found and taken
to the residence Of Mr.. Charles Woods,
where the family are domciled for the
present. But few charred fragments
were recovered and placed in a small pine
box.
The scene has been visited by hundreds
Of people from the surrounding country
during the day, and many more will prob
ably attend the funeral, which takes place
tomorrow.