Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-09-23
RURNED TO Ds4TH
The Rome of Mrs. Kate Jones Fakes
EIro and She R'erishes las fhu
EIonneh.

The Home of Mrs. Kate Jones Fakes
EIro and She R'erihhes las fhr
Flames.
Mrs. Kate Jones, widow, aged about
SIS yenrs, who kept trimming storn ut
No. 6IS W. Eighth street, was burued TO
death at |. As o'clock Tuesday morning,
in the burning Of her property. Tho lire
alarm was struck from box No. %. The
fire companies responded promptly and,
although tho fire threatened to spread to
the entire neighborhood, il was quickly
under control aud extinguished.
The fro undoubtedly started from n
small stove in the store, which was
packed with inilnlnmable goods, some Of
which wore placed within few inches Of
the stove. Mrs. Jones had lighted tho
ere during the day, Saying that She was
chilly. In the evening she Went 10 clhss
meeting ut Union M. II. Church, and lett
tho house in charge of Miss Mary kohler-
man, who lived next door. Mrs. Jones
returned home early, and, il is presumed
retired without turning of the drauSht
on the stove, which igniied the boxes oil
| millinery placed about it.
Mrs. Jones, who slept in the room inst
above the store, was probably awakened
| by the smoke md fire burning through
the floor. She raised the front window,
and robert j. Mclaughlin and Edward
KeithIey, who lived across the street. lad
already boon aroused, called GU Mrs.
Homes frantically to leap, The fire was
pourina ont of the bulk window in the
store aud the smoke issued in volumes
from the window ut which Mrs. Jones
| stood, while the interior OF the rnam
must have already been in flames. Mrs.
Jonea made no effort TO leap OF save her
| a.lf but had lust thrown two bundles OF
clothes out OF the window, when II Is
supposed she tainted from the effects OF
| the smoke and fell back into.thc ilames'
The families of John G.. kohlerlnan,
| who lives nj No. GIG, and Isaac BaeRls'
| rolored, of No 620, were aroused by tue
| volumes of smoke entering their homes.
| Mr. Koliarnnn won't 10 II 'mck WINDOW
\ and called for Mrs. Jones, but she lad
thon already persisted. The naighhoflis
families then threw their goods peis'lneli
| in tire streets and hack-3nfds anu fhslieu
/ out of their burning homes.
| AS several persons thought that Mrs.
| Homes had escaped, Il. i. Lummls OF the
Delaware Hook and ladder Company
assembled to the second floor as soon ~
| tie fire permitted md fouud the RI MANS
| o. the woman, horribly burned Mt me
game spot on which she had been staining
The house was completely burnt ont
ana is now a charred shell of wallis. Bti
tho woman had presence of mind she
coul1 easily have saved herself, as the
bonse il hut n small two storied building,
| and tbe window al which she stood and
tbrew ont her clothes is but II or II feet
| from the ground, while the top OF the
bulk window was only n short step IRON
the second floor. It is supposed that she
| becnme frantic.
Tic hOase belonged to John Jones ANA
his sister, stop children OF Mrs. Jones,
and bnth of whom live in New Castle II
was worth about ~ 500, while tho atocR
was valued at 1000. The building was
insured for $500 and the stock for q
similar amount in the New Castle County
Insurance Company.
The loss ON Mr.. KOhlerman's mouse
which Ia owned by John Is. Fisher, ant
was insured in the same company, was
estimated nj S100 and was promptly PAID
on Tuesday. Mr.. Kohierman's house
hold good were badly damaged aneRh'
had no insurance.
The house occupied by Isaac Raekns
Mt No. go, was owned by W. H. Merrb
of the jackson x Sharp Company, wa
also damaged TO tho extont of y D.
The fire was well managed, tho iiremei
stretching rope across the street above
and below the burning house TO Keel
back the surging cBOwds. This morning
the sceno of the holocaust was visited q
thousands of people, who advance
various theories Of how Mrs, Jones conl'
have saved her life.
laEphe remains will be buried thia ailer
noon. st-