Evening journal., 1889-01-07
SAVED FROM CREMATION.
The Fearful Peril of a Mother
and Her Babe.
MADE INSANE BY HER FEARS.

She Would Rave Remained 60 be Burned
to Death, but Was Forclbly Removed.
Children Lying Asleep in the Midst of
FLAMES.
PHILADELPHIA, Jen THE residences Of
Robert McWade. city editor Of The Public
Ledger, and J. H. Tighe, ON Lancaster ave
nue., at Wayne station, were entirely de-
stroyed by fire. The total loss is about
$4,000 Nine small children narrowly es-
capped being burned in their beds
Mrs. Jones, sister-in-law Of Mr. Tighe,
was driven crazy by the excitement and had
to be taken out Of the house by force When
the fire broke out McWade had just finished
supper and was sitting in the parlor with his
wife and several nearly grown children. The
little ones had been put TO bed. His first
thought was Of his children, and he darted
upstairs and succeeded in getting them all
out Of doors safely. Then he and several
neighhors formed bucket brigade, but the
flames gained steadily on them, famed by a
northwest wind
The houses Of Mr.. McWade and Mr. Tighe
adJoin. The flames soon spread TO the prop
erty next door. There is but one fire COM
pany at Wayne. 1t owns no engine, but has
line of hose The company responded, but
they could do nothing to save the buildings.
When the flames were at their height some
one shouted that there was a woman at one
of the windows of Mr.. Tighe's house.
Mr.. McWade ran upstairs through flame
and smoke, and found Mrs. Jones, with a
babe in her arms, standing in the centre of a
third story room. He told her to 90 down
stairs, but she refused to go. Then he tried
to persuade her, but she said she would not
move. She was perfectly calm. Her mind
had given way Mr. McWade seized her by
the arms and dragged her out of the room by
force. He managed, but with great diff
Guilty, to get her down the stairs, and she
and the baby weroitaken out safely. When
this was done Mr.. McWade heard screams in
Mr.. Tighe's house. He ran in again, and in
a second story room found two little children
lying in bed, with the flames darting all
around them.
He picked them up, and with an infant
tucked under each arm sprung downstairs
and barely managed to reach the door
through the clouds Of thick smoke. The
flames burned until 10 oclack and when they
were finally extinguished nothing but a pile
OF charred wood, ashes and bricks were left
Of two Of the finest mansions at Wayne. Mr..
McWade loses about $4,000 He had a
library worth fully 5000, and none Of il
was saved. He had no insurance on the house
or its contents Mr.. Tighe's loss is IS. 500
The house did not belong 10 him His effects
were partly insured in the New England
Mutual company.
Mr.. McWade's little children, who were
taken from their beds, were almost nude
They were tenderly carried through the ter
rible rain storm to the houses Of the neigh
bors where they were cared for The ladie.
had no time to save their clothing. They
were scantily dressed and were cared fol
by their friends who live close BY Til,
flames are supposed TO have originated from
a defective fius in Mr.. McWade's house.
Mr.. McWade was greatly affected by hi,
loss. II am homeless now.n he said. i'and
everything that / own in this world has beer
burned. 1t has taken me years to get my
library together, and had many things that
| valued more than money in my house.
shall have TO start life again
Mr. MeWades residence was a new and
handsome three story house built of brick
and ornamental stone, containing all the
modern improvements, and was elegantly
furnished throughout. Mr.. Tighe's residence
was'of similar construction.