The Penn's Grove record., 1891-02-13
PHILA., Jan. 8

PHILA., Jan. 8.
What came near being a fatal fire
occurred about 10 O'Clock yesterday
morning at the residence Of William
Wallace, No. II Laurel street. The
presence of mind of George Ford, O
Tenth district policeman, probably
saved the life OF Mrs. Wallace and also
the house from destruction. As it was
Ford was burned about the hands and
Mary Anderson, aged "a. a sister oil
Mrs. Wallace, was badly burned about
b hands and face.
Mrs. Wallace was confined about a
week ago, giving birth to achild which
only lived a few moments. The mother
appeared to be rapidly recovering and
Mr.. Wallace, who is a heater 10 a roll
ing mill in Harrisburg, returned to his
work there last Thursday after being
at home with his family for about
three weeks.
Friday night friends called to see
Mrs. Wallace, and while they were
present she was suddenly taken worse
and a doctor was sent for. Sue con
tinued seriously i'll until Saturday.
Yesterday she was a little better anu
about 10 O'Clock had gotten into a
sound sleep. The fire In the loom was
getting low and one Of the children
put some wood on it, which soon
burned up brightly.
The family went down stairs aud
were Dusily engaged, while the mother
| slept on. A little riv~e-year-old boy
was sent upstairs to see how the fire
was. He came down in a moment, and
In a childish way sad there was a big
fire upstairs. Supposing he meant that
the wood 10 the stove was blazing, no
attention was paid 10 the remark. Flf-
teen minutes passed and smoke was
discovered coming down the stairway.
| Mary, the sixteen-year-old daughter
rushed upstairs and found the whole
| side of the room ablaZe. She screamed
for help and then awoke her mother,
who was still sleeping peacefully.
SAVING HER MOTHER.
She succeeded III dragging the sick
woman frGm the bed, and huddled her
into a closet between the rooms. Mrs.
Anderson, who lives in Wilmington.
and who was visiting her sister, Mrs.
Wallace, responded to her niece's call
for help, and running up stairs she
tried to tear down . the lace curtains,
which were burning fercely. In doing
so the flaming material fell Oh her
hands and face, burning them severely.
The stove stood near the mantel in the
room, and a gust of wind coming
down the chimney had blown open tae
door and forced the flames out, causing
the lace lambreQuins on the mantel to
catch fire.
1t quickly spread, igniting the lace
curtains and woodwork, a up the
wall and across the papered ceiling
over the bed on which sleeping Mrs.
Wallace lay. The smoke and nose
raised by the family had by this time
attracted the attention of officer
| Ford, who was standing on. the corner
of Beach and Laurel streets. He
rushed into the house and up stairs
and proceeded at once to tear down the
burning materials and throw them out
of the wlncow. In doing so he cut
quite a cash in one Of his hands and
had both of them severely burned.
INJURED BY FLAMES.
In the meantime the fire had spread
to the rear room, catching up whatever
light, inhammaDle material there was in
its way. Both the officer and Mrs.
| Anderson continued their efforts to
subdue the flames, and were finally sue.
cessfuI. Mrs. Wallace was still Shut
up in the closet, out of the smoke, aud
| when she was lifted out by the officer
and placed on the bed, 1t was found
that she was exceedingly weak and
| speeches.. The shock and fright had
been a severe strain on her, in her
| weakened condition. and the doctor
was sent for. She had recovered some
| what last night, and is now believed
| will get along all right.
Officer Ford and Mrs. Ander o. were
taken to the Episcopal Hospital, where
| their wounds were dressed. Mrs. An
derson returned to her sister, but OH
Ger Ford will not be able to resume his
duties for come days. There is no
doubt that the presence of mind OF
the officer and Mrs. Anderson saved
the life of Mrs. Wallace, who would
either have been smothered OF burned
to death. The damage to the house
and furniture was not very heavy.