The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-06-16
VICTIMS OF THE FLAMES.
A Widows Four Young Children
Burned to Death.
Their Uncle Fatally Injured While
Trying to Rescue Them.

Mrs. Mary Mooney, a widow, residing
lbout three miles north of Akron, Ohio, re.
ired about 9 o'clock the other evening, sleep
ing in the same room with her five children
Thomas, aged 12; Julia, 10; Nellie, Z; Law
:ence 4,and Maggie, g. Their bed chamber was
b the front part on the second floor of a
mall frame house. In the rear part of
he same floor, in other rooms, slept
Lawrence Mooney, aged 5S, brother-in-
aw of the mother of the children:
Lizzie Mooney, aged 20, and Patrick
Mooney, aged 49, Mrs. Moneys husband,
Michael Mooney, died nearly two years ago.
Ind since that time the children, with their
which was for them very comfortable home.
About IL o'clock P. NJ, some of the children
:ried out, which awakened Mrs. Mooney,
,ealize.i that the house was on
ire. The smoke was already so dense as to
70 almost sitting Mrs Mooney at once
prang from the bed. grasped her two-year-
I'D baby in her arms, and also attempted to
larry the little boy, Lawrence, but her son,
Thomas, said he would take care Of him.
Mrs. Mooney then told the children to join
way to the stairway to go down
% the lower part of the house, and
N this way make their escape, but on reach
ng the stairway she found. that the flames
lad filled it and that there was no possible
.hance of escape by that way. Being almost
overcome from the heat and smoke the poor
mother and little ones retraced their steps to
heir bedroom Here Mrs. Mooney raised
window and called to her children to jump
or their lives. She could, however, no
onger see them as the flames were
her babe in the face. In half fainting and
erribly excited condition the mother, with
he babe hugged to her breast. threw herself
,ut of the window and landed safely on the
ground with nothing but her night clothes
IN.
Lawrence Mooney, the uncle, and Lizzie
ind Patrick Mooney, also succeeded in
making their escape by jumping from the
windows, though neither of them had time
% dress. The four children, Thomas, Julia,
Nellie and Lawrence, who were last seen
With hands clasped trying to find the stair
way, were still in the building, which was
low one solid wall of flame. The
.ries and shrieks were clearly heard, and oc-
.asionally the forms of the little ones could
De seen through this terrible shroud of
ieath that was SO rapidly consuming them.
Mr. Mooney, the uncle, was fairly crazed
md fonght the fire as best he could.
Again and again he rushed into the house
through the fire in his endeavors to save
the little ones. The floor had burned out
rom beneath them, and they had fallen into
;he cellar. The mother, brother, sister and
lncle were wild from grief Us they watched
;he terrible sight. Fainter and fainter grew
;he cries Of their loved ones, until all was
lushed.
Mr.. Mooney, in his endeavors to save the
children, almost persisted in the flames. He
vas a sickening sight to look upon. His face
vas so swollen and blistered that he scarcely
ooked like human being. His lips were
hree times their natural size and looked as
though they would burst His cheeks were
great blisters; his eyebrows, hair and his
Shskers were burned close to the skin. leav-
iothing but the curled yellow roots exposed
IN the face. His hands and arms were liter
lily roasted. He was fatally injured.