The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-11-04
VICTIMS OF THE FLAMES.
Fearful Disruption Of a House
hold in Chicago.
Wife, her Mother and Two
Children Burned to Death.

A terr1Ole VISITATION OF IRE anu uedGu Caiuo
upon the household Of William S. Bates, at
ST Vernon Park place, this morning, says
a Chicago dispatch. There was a sudden cry
of "The house is on fire! Oh, save us! Save
the children!' and then a 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 a
grim, black mass Of ruins; the red walls still
standing partially hid the CHASTITY scene from
passers-by, the blackened windows and doors
alone affordins 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. Inc
rescued were William S. Bates, Thomas G.
Grayson and Martha Bates, q child OF Two
years, the youngest Of the family.
Shortly before & o'clock in the morning the
servant, Mary Dolan, got up to start a flre 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 a SUD-
den explosion. -.
Mrs. Bates jumped from her bed in the
middle room of the first floor and rushed
quickly nto the kitchen in her night clothes,
and attempted to e%xtinguish the flames by
dashing water upon them. The frlghtened
servant had escaped through the rear win
low, which was still open, and a stiff breeze
blew in, tanning the fire into fury. The par,
titions be IAN to blaze. Beholding che awful
danger OF the situation, the poor woman
thou. ht of her sleeping children and turned
her attention to saving them.
She thought of her babe Martha first, and,
snatching the infant in her arms, carried IL
through the side hall into the street. A panic
had by this time seized upon the remaining
madly leaping 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 me-" she cried, as she wrung her hands
in agony.
the door in his cart
s'Stop, woman!" he shouted, "you cannot
90 in there and come out alive"
He leaped from the wagon and seized her
by the arms. There came a wall from her
perishiny boys within. This decided her.
breaking from the mans grasp Mrs. Bates
dashed into the hall and disappeared in the
merciless flames. She was never again
seen alive. Facing the binding fury OF
scorching heat and Sitting smoke the brave
mother, as afterward shown, reached the
middle bedroom, snatched up another or 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. tue brave mothers blackened remains
were found with those Of the boy clasped III
her scorched arms.
Mrs, Bates had been awakened first. She
called her husband, and viii she tried te
save the children he started upstairs 10 the
rescue of her brother and her aged mother.
MIR. Bates made his way through the kitchen
just as the flames were eating 1aelr way .a:s
through the felt partition separating tne
kitchen from the sleeping apartments. Inc
kitchen stove, a large sized range, was stu:
ated within six inches of this partition ano
on O direct line with the oper
window, through which a strong
wind was blowing. Famed 61y
this draught the flames spread in every al
rection, and Mr.. Bates had NC sooner reached
the stairs leading to the rooms above thar
the fire cut off his retreat. He dashed vi
the stairs, shouting at the top OF his Volce u
alarm the aged woman and his brother-ln
law. The latter awoSe first, and at a gianct
perceiyed the flames had cut OIL his escap'
down the stairway. Every moment tnt
blaze grew more appalling. The felt parti
lions we're like so much finder. Bates mac
no sooner reached the upper floor than por,
lions of the roof began to full.
All the time the smoke became denser
Bates CROPPED his way through the binding
clouds and managed to reach his brother-il
her way in the smoke. She left her room
and started to descend by means Of the bacl
stairway while the W men were preparing
to lump out the front window. She fell neal
the head Of the stairs and was suffocated.
Grayson Jumped out of the window first
followed by Bates a moment later. boil
mel were badly burned. Bates was burned
about the limbs, arms and face. his eye
brows were scorched, and portions OF MS
hair and beard were singod OF. Grayson'
injuries were principally about the love-
limbs.
Within ten minutes after the department
arrived the flames were e~xtinguished. Ihel
Marshal Campion entered the front door aIt
stumbled over somethingin tho hallway. Ihe
obstacle was the charre1 remains OF Mrs Bates
She was burned almost to q crisp. SIDE hel
was the body of her child Eddie, also horribly
disfeured. In tho bedroom was found the pooy
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 te
sufocation, and the features were htellk@
and easily recognizable.
MIR. Bates is q clerk in D. B. Flsk's estao
Gshment on Wabash avenue. Thomas Gray,
sonfor the last fifteen years has been a clerl
:. IL. Irn;on National hank.