The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-10-30
VICTIMS OF THE FLAMES.
Fearful Disruption of House
hold in Chicago.
A Wife, her Mother and Two
Children Burned to Death.

A terrible visitation of fire and death came
upon the household of William S. Bates, at
So Vernon Park place, this morning says
Chicago dispatch. There was a sudden cry
of "The house is on firel Oh save us! Save
the children" and then rush and
sweep of flame and smoke, and in less time
almost than it takes to relate the tale of hor-
ror the little household of seven human be-
ings was reduced to three. or the other
four nothing remained but blackened, charred
bodies. The interior of the house was n
grim, black mass of ruins; the red walls still
standing partially hid the CHASTITY scene from
pass ars-by, the blackened windows and doors
alone alfOrding a view. The death list Is as
follows: Mrs. Mary Bates, wife of William
S, Bates, aged thirty three years; Mrs. Gray
son, mother of Mrs. Bates, aged seventy-two
years; johnny Bates, aged six years; Eddie
Bates, aged four years and six months. The
rescued were William s. Bates, Thomas {.
Grayson and Martha Bates, child of two
years, the youngest of the family.
Shortly before Ii o'clock i'll the morning the
servant, Mary Dolan, got up to start fire in
the kitchen to prepare breakfast The rest
of the family were still abed. 1t is not
known whether the girl used Kerosene to
start the fire, for there were both an oil stove
and a range in the little Kitchen. At all
events the household were aroused by sud
den explosion.
Mrs Bates jumped from her bed in the
middle room of the first floor and rushed
quickly into the kitchen in her night clothes,
and attempted to eXtingush the flames by
dashing water upon them. The frightened
servant had escaped through the rear win
dow, which was still open, and still breeze
blew in, tanning the fire into fury. The par
t,rions be gan to blaze Beholding the awful
danger OF the situation, the poor woman
thought of her sleeping children and turn ed
her attention to saving them.
She thought of her babe Martha first, and,
snatching the infant in her arms, carried it
through the side hall into the street. a panic
had by this time sezel upon the remaining
people in the burning building. Flames were
nadly leapng through every portion of the
interior and had even reached the upper
rooms, where old Mrs. Grayson and her son
Thomas slept. Sitting smoke was issuing
from every window. The mother realized
that the peril of those within was awful.
II must save my children! Oh, my God,
help men she CRIED as she wrung her hands
in agony
The morning milkman had ratified up to
the door in his cart.
"Stop, woman" he shouted, 'you canloe
go in there and come out alive.
He leaped from the wagon and seized her
by the arms. There came wall from her
perishing boys within This decided her.
Breaking from the mans grasp Mrs. bltes
dashed into the hall and disappeared IN the
merci!ess flames. She was never again
seen alive Facing the binding fury Of
scorching heat and sitting smoke the brave
mother, atterward shown reached the
middle bedroom, snatched up another OF her
children, Eddie, and started back. But she
could not reach the free air again. At the
front window, within six feet of the front
door, the brave m ptner's blackened remains
We're found with those of the boy clasped in
her scorched arms.
Mrs. Bates had been awakened first. She
called her husband and viii @ she tried to
save the children he started upstairs to the
rescue of her brother and her aged mother.
Mr.. Bates made his way through the Kitchen
Just rs the flames We're eating their way
through the felt partition separating the
kitchen from the sleeping apartments. The
kitchen stove, u large sized range, was stu
ated within six inches OF this partition and
on direct line with the open
window through which strong
wind was blowing. Famed by
this draught the flames spread in every di-
rection, and Mr.. Bates had no sooner reached
the stairs leading to the rooms above than
the fire cut off his retreat He dashed up
the stairs, shouting a. the top of his voice to
alarm the aged woman and his brother in
law. The latter awoNe first, and at n glance
perceived the flames had cut oil his escape
down the stairway Every moment the
blaze grew more appalling. The felt parti-
tons were like SO much finder. Bates had
no sooner reached the upper floor than por-
tons of the roof began to fall.
All the time the smoke became dcnsar.
Bates CROPPED his way through the binding
clouds and managed to reach his brother-in
law, Grayson. Aged Mrs. Grayson missed
her way in the smoke. She lett her room
and started to descend by means of the back
stairway while the two men were preparing
to jump out the front window She fell near
the head of the stairs and was suffoCatcd.
Grayson jumped out of the window first
followed 10y Bates Il moment later. Both
men were badly burned. Bates was burned
about the limbs, arms and face. His eye
brows We're scorched, and portions of his
hair and beard were snged off. Grayson's
injuries were principally about the lower
limbs
Within ten minutes after the department
arrived the flames were extlnguished. Then
Marshal Campon entered the front door and
stumbled over something in the hallway. The
obstacle was til charre remains of Mrs Bates.
She va hu"o n almost TO n 'risp y 'Siin hN-
vas the body of her child Eddie, also horribly
disfigured In the bedroom was found the body
of the eldest child Johnny, aged six years,
likewise Charred and burned. Mrs. Grayson's
body was the only one OF the four not badly
burned Her death was due apparently to
sufocation, and the features were lilelike
and easily recognizable.
Mr. Bates is clerk in d. B. Fisk's estab-
h-hment on Wabash avenue Thomas Gray
son for the last fifteen years has been q clerk
i'll the Union National bank.