Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-11
ONLY A CHILD ESCAPED.
Frank Barlow and All OF His Family Except
One Son Burned 10 Death.

A Mabanoy City pa special OF the 9th
says: A small mining village known as
Trenton, or Park Place, situated four miles
from Mahanoy City, was the scene OF big
fire at 4 O'Clock this morning, by which
block OF houses was destroyed and six per-
sons were burned to death. Park Place.
as IL is generally called. has population of
nearly 200 people, exclusively miners and
their families, and the work furnished at
colliery Is what the inhabitants solely de-
pend upon for a livelihood. The houses
are all three. story frame structures, and
are built in blocks OF six houses 10 each
block.
At O'Clock this morning FIRE broke out
in the building occupied by Frank Barlow.
Peter Alspach, who lives next door to BAR
low, in describing how the fire was dis
covered. said he heard loud noise As II
something very heavy had fallen. A mo-
ment later smoke and flames began to pour
into his room. He aroused his family, and
all rushed out OF the house in their night
clothing. Alspaca gave an alarm and tried
TO awaken the Borrow family. who were
apparently sound asleep. The whole neigh
borbood had reached the scene OF the fire.
and all efforts TO rouse Barlow or his
family proved nuavaIling. Several miners
broke in the front door, bur were
obliged to retreat, owing to smoke and
flames. They, however, effected an en-
trance into the building from the rear and
ran up stair. and at window they saw
the arm OF man protruding. An effort
was made to reach him, but the res.
cuers were driven back, and the spectators
were compelled To stand helpessly BY ADD
witness the Barlow family perish in the
Il mes. a number Of men went TO the rear
OF the house with ladders. IN the hope Of
reaching some Of the family. They stun.
bled over what proved TO be the body
OF George, one OF BarlOw's chill.
dIcn. The little fellow was picked
ND and cal ried into neighbOring
house, where medical aid soon restored
him to consciousness. He said that when
the family awoke and found the house on
fire they tried to get down stairs. but were
cut Off by the flames. He said his father
took him ia his arms, carried him TO the
window, and after kissing him goodbye
threw him out. The heroic father then
made an effort TO save his son Thomas, but
was overcome and fell with his arms partly
out OF the window, rs he was subsequently
found. The following are the victims who
persisted in the flames; Frank Barlow,
aged forty.fye: Mrs. Barlow, aged forty
i've; Annie Barlow. aged fourteen; Wal
ter Barlow, aged ten; Thomas Barlow.
aged four. and James Fitzgerald, aged
twenty zone, who boarded with the Barlow
family.
The widest excitement prevailed when
tie flames communicated to the adjoining
houses. and spread so rapidly that in
twenty Minutes the entire block OF six
houses were in flames. All were destroyed
with their contents.
When the flames had nothing else to
burn search for the dead bodies was
begun. Portions Of the bodies were re-
covered. hut they were burned beyond
all possible Identification, ard presented
n most sickoning sight. There was
some doubt at first a. to whether
the boarder Fitzgerald was one OF the
victims. from the fact that he was on the
"nigit.sElit" and could not have been in
led more than half an hour before the fire
broke cut: but the finding OF a lantern
which Fitzgerald carried with him when
be left the breast at . O'Clock. and the fact
that the trunks OF three full.grown bodies
were eXhumed from the RUNS. is sufficient
evidence that he was in bed at the time and
peIishcd with the others.
Dcputy-COTOner Taggart, OF Frackyllle,
drove to the scene OF the tire aud EN-.
panelcd jury, who returned verdict
that the victims were accidentally burned
10 death. The affair created the greatest
excitement, and the scene OF death and de-
,truction was visited by at least 2,OOO
people during the day. Barlow and FitZ-
Gerald were miners. and usually worked
| tor,tber at the new co.liery, Park No. >.