Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-06-08
EIGHT PERSONS BURNED
To Death in a Terrible Fire at
Chicago.
DREADFUL EARLY MORNING SCENE
Another Disastrous COnfagratiOn at Louis
yilIe--A Theatre and Business
Block Burned.

smothered and burned to death in the
frame houses at 73l aud 1913 South Canal
street at 4 o clock this morning. The fire
broke out in the cellar of 733 Canal street.
The flames shot upward, and quickly burn
ed through the first floor, which is on
level with the ground. The FIRE spread
through the wooden walls Of the basement,
and No. 73l Was soon wrapped IN the
flames which enveloped the adjoining num-
Der. Both houses were filled with smoke
before any ofthe occupants were aroused.
Many Of the sleepers were eouOtless smott-
cred in their beds, and it will never be
known who awoke and tried in vain to e.
cape from the sitting smoke and sco'ching
flames. The flames following rapidly after
the smoke, burned the iIsensste bodies till
they were unacceptable masses Of black
sad charred bones aud flesh.
LEAF FOR LIFE.
The lower floor Of 733 was occupied by
john Raleigh, Jr His wife was awakened
by q sense OF sufFOcAtion. She aroused
her husband, who hastily donned fsw ar
ticles Of clothing and threw up window.
The flames scorched his face, singing hia
hair and mus aches. He caught his wife
in his arms, aud with terrible effort, threw
her bodily out of the window. Her night
dress caught on fire, but with great pres
snce of mind she extinguished the flames
With her hands, and lent all The assistance
possible in saving the lives OF her two
children. The fire, however, had gained
considerable headway, and Raleigh was uL-
able to put the children out of the same
window. He then kicked on the wall 10
arouse the people on the second floor, and
catching the babies in his srms, ran up
stairs aud jumped with them from sec
ond story window.
TWO FAMILIES CREMATED,
The second floor of No. 73S was occu-
pied By the Durkin and Murphy families.
No member of either of these families es-
csped. The hremen, in searching the
ruins of the houses, came upon the most
narrowing sCeIes Some were lying in the
hslfourned beds. Others who were |
awakened before deatl came upon them
we're clutching each other in groups on
the floor. They we sll evidently over
come by the smoke before any eff Jrt could |
be made to escape.
The uppet floor was occupied by Will
liam Hand, Jr His father livei with him.
They were aroused by the smell of smoke.
The young man caught up the children
and Jumped from the second story window
With them, after assisting his wife to the
street. He wanted to help his ia her down.
but the old man insisted on hia jumping |
With the children The aged aud decrepir |
form OF the old gentleman was seen at the
window a moment aud then disappeared
lust as he was about to leap The raging |
fire prevented the making of an effort TOR
his rescue.
The lower floor Of No. 73l was occupied |
by q man named Mcclure, who KEEP; |
grocery store. All his family were saved.
NAMES OF THE VICTIMS.
The names of the dead are as follows:
MICHAEL MURPHY, aged 40 years; en-
ployed By the South Division Railway
company.
Mas MICHAEL MURPnY, aged about 35
years.
ANNIE MURPHY 3 years old.
NELLIE MURRAY, ii years old.
Mrs. MARY DUREIN, aged 30 years.
PATsY LAWN, aged 4 years, son OF Mrs.
Mark Durkin by former ms -risge.
JONI DUREIN, weeks old.
WILLIAM HAND, aged 6S years; a butcher
AN INCENnIARY's wORE.
lis believed that the fire wsi' the work
Of an iucendisry. 1t was frs4 seen BY q
wstchman in brewery near bys BE start
ed over 10 alarm the occupants When in
the rear of the burned houses he met q man
who said:
There's fire. You'd better turn in On
alarm
The man disappeared up the alley. The
Va Gilman could no; identify him If be
should see him again. This is the third
time the place has been set siite.