Daily Kennebec journal., 1885-02-23
A MASS OF FLAMES,
A Brave Woman Aids Her Children
to Escape the Flames.
Aud Her Husband Turns TO Death while
Trying TO Save Life-Six
Persons Killed.
PRnLApslrHII. Feb II

PHILADKLrHIA, Feb Il.
Fire broke out between and : o'clock this
morning, in the house Of John A. King, and
the flames made such rapid spread that three
dwellings were destroyed before the fire could
be checked The occupants of Kings residence
were asleep in the upper story, and whea
aroused by the heat and smoke ran to the
windows and most of them jumped out King
was overcome by the heat and smoke.an fell
back into the flames. His charred body was
found after the fire was extinguished Three
other people who jumped 10 the ground, two
female servants and a sister of Mrs. King. also
lost their lives Mrs. King appeared at
window crying for help. A mattress was held
by friends, and she was told TO drop her baby
first, and then jump herself, She did 20, and
received what are thought to be fatal inju-
ries. The baby has since expired
The following is a list t'f the killed and
wounded; Kllled-John King, retired ium-
Der merchant, was burned to death in the I'd
story; Miss. Jennie Hamilton, sister of Mrs.
King and daughter OF rr. Hamilton, was
burned to death on the 4th floor; John King,
son of Mr.. King; Mary Burnes, a servant was
burned To crisp; Mary -, another SER
want, was burned to a crisp. Irjured-Miss
Lillian King. daughter of DIR. Hamilton;
Catharine -, a servant, was very badly
burned.
1t appears tina. Mr.. Kings residence was
on fire twice during the night. Early in the
morning fire was discovered in the basement.
about o'clock, but the police were denied
admttance nv King, saying that the danger
was over. The inmates, who had dressed
themselves, preparatory to speedy flight, again
retired
About o'clock the neighbors were again
alarmed, smoke issuing from the basement
they rang the door bell. Mr. King app, ared,
aud assured theW that 1t was the r, suit of the
fuel. Soon afterwards flames burst forth
from the lower floor. The negnbors raised
an alarm, but as two other fires were in pro-
eress III different parts of the city At the same
time, II was three quarters of an hour before
the fire engines came.
Meanwhile, MIR and Mrs. King and others
of the family, could be seen in the ith story
with all means oi escape Gu; of Mrs. King
was IN her clothes but was remarkably calm
and bade her children to be calm She then
called TO the neighbors below to gtta mat
tress and blanket; then lifting her five wear
old boy to the winlnv-,ill told him to be
brave an jump. He jumped and struck the
mattress fairly and 1t seemed that he was
safe, but the poor little fellow was so badly
shaken that he died in few minutes Mrs
King raised her three year old daughter to
the window and dropped her fairly on the
mattress. The child was hurt but not killed.
Turuing for moment To address word to her
husband, Mrs. King mounted the window sill
and deliberately jumped of, with as much
calmness as one might jump into y bath. She
was badly hurt. Her husband was about to
follow her, but seemed to be calling some
one behind him, (probahly Miss Iamlton),
when the spectators were horrified by tho
sudden leapng forth of broad sheet of
flames, by the light of which, King was seen
to throw up his hands Ms If in despair. and
fall back AZ the same time.
Another crowd at the back of the house
were terrified to see similar shocking sight
Miss Hamilton had been driven by the flames
and being unable to stay in the room afraid
to jump, hung bv her hands out of the wir-
dow until utterly exhausted, and at last was
compelled to let 20, and dropped TO the pave
ment below. When picked up, one side of
her body was IDLY burned. II showed that
she had been literally burned of the window
sill.
Mr. King was well known in Philadelphia,
and his tragic death is much lamented. 1t is
now known that he persistently refused to
jump from the window to the mattress held
for him, as long as one woman remained in
the building.