The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-14
SHE BECOMES A MANIAC.
A SEQUEL TO THE RECENT NINE
HORROR AT PITTsBuRa, KAs.
A Wife Who Secs tho Manglcd and
Charred Remains OF Her Husband
Becomes Insane and Burns
Herself and Children.

CHICAGO, H., Nov. ia dispatch
from Piitsburg. Kas., says As tho cage
came up from the fatal shaft at Frontcnac
Sunday morning. an awful shrek was
heard, and Marie Bcrttune, wife OF Louis
ilerthuno, iell senselcr' as sho recognized
the mangled body Of .or husband. IIor
swoon WIS long. and when she recovered
she had dazcd look aud refused TO speak
or notice any one. No attention was paid
to her BY those who Ccre busy with the
dead and dying, but al about midnight q
cry Of Fire" from the village gathered a
crowd Of workers from the mine 20 tho
streets. II was seen that the Bcrthuno
cabin was in flames, and willing hands
were soon at work 10 save the inmates.
The oldest child, a girl Of nine years, sue
ceeded In escaping from the fire, which
devoured the rest Of the family, and her
story was one that sent thrill Of horror
through all who heard II. She said that
her mother had sent each child 10 bed
with kiss and then sat before the stove.
The girl could not sleep. and lay watching
her mother, who. after sitting iOT
some time. took can OF coal
oil and poured II over herself
and the bed where her children were sleep
ing peacefully, unconscious Of threatened
harm or danger. The eldes, girl had
viewed these preparations with terror aud
was preparing 10 spring from the oil soaked
bed aud fly Tor her lie when her mother
lighted picco Of paper aud deliberately
applied the flame 20 her dress aud threw
the blazing remnant upon the bed. In an
instant almost the whole interior 81 the
house was ablaze. The girl jumped from
the bed and bolied for the hall open door.
Her mother, whose loose dress was burn.
ing ficrcely. caught her la her arms and
tried 10 prevent ber escape. Tho girl
fought like ,iucs for freedom, her s,rug.
giles being strengthened by the death
shrioks of the other children, who were
wrthing IN the flames that were fast con.
sunlng them and the hut Mrs. Bcrthune
passed her arms around tho struggling
childs body, aud, unmindiul Of the FIRE
that was slowly broiling her own flesh, en-
dcayorcd 10 hold her, but her strength
soon gave way bciom the awful torture.
Tho girl finally made one heroic effort 10
tear herself loose from the maniac and sue
cccdod.
Released from the maniac, the girl stag
gcrod through the door and fell headlong
into n ditch, from which che was rescued
few minutes later by party Of miners
who were attracted Nv the flames The
poor child Was terribly burned, and the
doclors who fmt aw Ter said she could
not survive the night, bot they now bold
out faint hopes Of her recovery. Tho
miners made q gallant effort 10 save the
hut and its inmates, but the flfo had made
NJ much progress that they were COM
PEELED 10 give up aud stand by aud watch
Il burn 10 the ground. Whom II was all
consumed they raked through tho glowing
embon until they found the charrc1
bodies Of the bur children and
Mu BcHhune. Thoy were found hud.
died together. The bodies were carried 10
the dead.house and laid beside the man.
glcd corpse Of the miner whose bloody
face was hidden under gunny sack.