The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1885-01-01
Death in the Flames F!
Sad Fate Of Jacob Cole
Heavy Loss Of Walker E. Marsh !
THE STORE AT EFFORTS BURNED
EFFORT, O., Dec. 29, 1884.

EFFORT, o., Dec. %, 1884.
TO the Editors of the Standard
At your request. | will endeavor to
give you short and true account Of
the sad accident here on last Thursday
eve, Dec. 25th.
My store is situated by the railroad,
some seventy rods from my house, and
out of sight of my house Ny broth
er or Isleep in the store at night. Mr..
Cole often staid with my brother.
Last Thursday eve, my brother went
away on the train, and while was at
my house G. Dickens and ]. S. Cole
called me to go down to the store. l
went and staii.. until 81 o'clock. Then
| told the boys that I had thought of
getting Mr.. Willis, who lives near the
store, to stay in the store and let me
go home, as | was afraid Of thieves
coming to my house. The boys said
they would stay, and as I often left
them in charge of the store, I said,
CAL right, boys. There is oysters,
apples, &c. Help yourselves" Then
| gave Mr.. Dickens the key and I
went home. A little after midnigh
I was awakened by some one calling
me. [ went to the door and found it
was Mr.. Willis. He asked me who
was in the store. as it was burning
down. | answered, "Cull and Jake
Mr.. Willis left and I hurried on my
clothes, and when [ got there found
Jake Cole standing On the railroad
some distance below the fire with most
of his clothes burned off. He was a
sad looking object, yet we were glad
to see him alive. He said Gull got him
out and that he was up at the house.
We found Gull at Mr.. Willis's in
great misery. Gull says after l left
they talked some time and then lay
down on the cot, some distance back
of the stove. He was awakened by
the popping of the fire. He was al
most strangled and he aroused Jake
and ran to the front door. He had
the key in his pocket, but the heat
seemed to be greater there, so he ran
to one of the back doors and got into
the meat room. There he kicked out
small window and got out, and Jake
put his head out and could get no far
ther. Gull pulled and worked and had
to knock off board before he could
get him out, and then he dragged him
down to the railroad, away from the
fire. Jake was in great misery, yet
he knew everything up to Saturday
morning, about 5 o'clock. Then he
seemed to sink to sleep, and died at 6
o'clock Saturday morning. I was with
him and saw him die, and he died easy,
as though asleep. He was burned in
wardly, which caused his death. In
him Scioto County loses one Of her
best citizens, and we, his neighbors,
lose as good and kind-hearted neigh
Dor as ever lived. He was my conf
Dental and particular friend. Gull
Dickens is improving. He is badly
burned, and cut three severe gashes in
his right arm. He strained himself
also, and suffers from pains all through
his body. He is an extra strong man
aud very quick. A weaker man would |
probably never have succeeded in
breaking out. The fire is supposed to
have originated from the hue. Jake
Cole was buried yesterday at 2 p. m,
at Webster graveyard.
I write this in a hurry, as 60 yet
tonight to watch with Gull.
Respectfully Yours,
WALKER E. MARSH.