Connecticut western news., 1889-05-29
FIVE DEAD IN THE FLAMES.
Burning of the Rev. F. c. Clarke's
 Dwelling in Virginia.

Dwelling in Virginia.
 A dispatch from Norfolk, Virginia, says: The quaint and picturesque little dwelling of the Rev. F. c. Clarke in Princess Anne county, about five miles from Virginia Beach, and in grove of towering pines, was the scene Of terrible disaster, which left only four persons out of a family of nine to tell the tale. The Rev. Mir. Clarke was the pastor of the London Bridge Baptist Church, and was surrounded with an interesting family, consisting of his wife, three daughters and two sons. Besides these he has had staying at his residence for some time Miss Pullen of Shiloh, Va. who is his niece, and Miss Fila Bidgood, who isthr guverncss of thepastor's family.
 hold retired at about 10 o'clock. At that time the wind was blowing q gale outside, and, os the weather was decidedly cool a fire was left burning in one of the rear rooms. From that time until 1 o'clock the wind kept up in steady blasts, and as it increased i'll fury the fire in the old fireplace blazed high. Soon the flames set the chimney on fire and sparks blew thick and fast from it. From the chimney the fire spread to the house, and, as 1t was frame structure, it was soon burn ing at a terrific rate.
 In the mean time the sleepers in the house were unaware of the danger which surround ed them, until suddenly Mir. Clarke awakened and found the room :ull of smoke and light blaze burning in the northwest corner of the building. He at once gave the alarm to his wife, who slept in an adjoining room, and shouted at the top of his voice to awaken the ot her slpepers.
 By this time the flames had spread so rap- idly that they had cut off all egress by way of the staircase. The windows were the only exits left by which the inmates of the house could escape, and Mir. Clarke quickly tied several sheets from the bed together and low cred his Vile and youngcst daughter safely to the ground. Then Mrs. Clarke saw her husband rush back in the burning building. Before he had been out of sight two minutes the rear portion of the building caved in and no more was seen of him
 At that time only four persons had escap- ed from the building, and they were Mrs. Clarke, James Clarke, Mabel Clarke and the governess. Miss Bidgood The other i've whose charred remains were found after the flames were extinguished, were MT. Clarke, his two daughters. Bessie and Mariana, his son Freddie, and his neicc, Miss PulIen. All the bodies were burned to a crisp, and Mr. Clarkes 8 bare bones are all that is left of him. If Mir. Clarke's oldest son, James, had not la- bored under misapprehcnsion and thought that everybody was out of the house, there is strong probability that all could have been saved. Butinstcad of looking out for the in- mates of the house he looked out for the proD- erty, and did actually succeed in saving the piano and placing it in place of safety. After accomplishing this feat he carried off several other articles of value before discoy- ering that tine five inmates in the burning building had not escaped. With the excep. tion Of what the lad saved the family lost everything, not even saving clothes enough for proper attire.
 Miss Pullen was an only child and the daughter of wealthy parents. She was a prct- ty girl of nineteen summers and very popu- lar among all who knew her. Her parents are griefstricken, and the announcement of her death to her mother caused her to go in- to a fit of mysteries, which it is feared may prove fatal