St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-10-27
AH0L0GAuST HORROR
fatality again 0vertakeS a
Doomed West ST. Paul
Building.
kIps. Catherine Clifford Was
Burned to Death in a
Close Prison.
Siekening Sight That Met the
Eyes Of the Firemen to
the Rescue.
Serious if Not Fatal Accident
Serious if Not Fatal Accident
to Chief Cook in a DrlV-
ing Smash.

II would seem that horrible fatality
hangs over jewellers in the twO-story
frame dwelling at 1856 Edward street,
West ST. Paul. In that house little Ida
Burmaster and Mrs. Lee were burned
TO death on the morning Of June 26,
1855. Another shocking death occurred
there last night. Mrs. Catharine Cliff
ford, the aged occupant and owner of
the house, was literally roasted by
flames. Patrick Foley, a car
penter living at 1871! Edward
street, discovered the house TO
be on fire shortly after o'clock. but on
running to the door he found it locked
and could arouse no one on the inside.
The natural supposition was that no one
was within. Addison f. PTOSSeT, OF 30
West Indiana avenue, was also attracted
by the blaze that could be plainly seen
through the windows, and turned IN the
alarm from 4 neighbOring store. Upon
the arrival OF a fire brigade the faSten-
ings Of the door were forced. but for
some strange reason it could not be
opened but a few inches.
A SICKENING SIGHT
met the gaze of fireman who first
squeezed through the opening. The
lower Sttll III tltE III llJ VI OJ0iAC lNnNiii6
to the second story was directly III front
Of and about five feet distant from the
door. The body of a woman enVelOped
in flames lay directly in front of him,
her feet against the stair and her head
damned up against the door. The sight
was CHASTITY. The efforts of his COM
tades on the outside 10 force the
door had bent the body almost
b0nble, and every time the force was
thrown UPON Is the mass of burning,
sizzling flesh raised and lowered before
his eyes. AS quickly as possible they
were given TO understand the situation,
axes were brought and the door was
Bhopped from tts hinges. A chemical
mas turned on and the dead body was
dragged from the flames. One hand
flesh was burned from both arms
and shoulders, and the whole
upper part Of She body was literally
cooked. The faes was not badly
ais6gured, as she lay face downward
upon the Y0Olen hall carpet. After the
body was removed TO the street. the fire
was extinguished, with almost no loss
g4pOD the building. Perhaps the real
cause Of Mrs. CliffOrd's
SHOCKING DEATH
viii never be known, but from the
position IN which she UaS round ana
ether circumstances. q theory is easily
advanced. A shattered kerosene lamp
lay beside her, and the carpet near the
door was saturated with oil. 1t would
appear that she must have tripped in
descending the stairs, falling heddfOTe-
most to the bottom and Shatlenng
the lamp that she carried In her hand.
After the body was removed to Cad
bouts mOTgue on SOuth Robert street, a
bad wound was discovered on her fore
head, indicating that she must have
been knocked insensible by the fall.
Her cl Jthing was almost entirely burned
from her body, only 4 few fragments
upon which she lay not being consumed,
and it is apparent that she did not
move after falling to the floor. Mrs.
Clifford was a widow woman about
fftY-fiVe years of age, and lived with her
son. John Clifford, drayman. She was
possessed of considerable property.
owning the house in which she lived, a
large house adjoining, and vacant lot
or two i'm the vicinity. Her son was not
at home and had not been informed OF
his mothers frightful death when a
GLOBE reporter called at the house last
night he went home shortly before
5OclOck and put up his horse, but did
not 90 into the house. His action is eX-
planned by the neighbOTS, who stated
that The dead woman had been drinking
heavily during the day; that she was
Intoxicated at the time, and That she
was generally quaTrelS0me when in
that condition.