The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-01
BURNED TO DEATH
Three Children Perish While
Sleeping in Bed.
EARLY FIRES FATAL REsu
The Victims Were Probably suo...,
by the Smoke Before the Flame.
Reached Them.

burned to death three Children 1,..L. . a.u
stfader ana Ray Simpson The csusa 80 ~. -
nasra.on 10 unknown, but whatever NAV hsxa
.' .'s o,isin the names spread SO quickly that
the parents, who were sleeping down s,si-.
were utterly unable to rescue the chi,".a,, 49,
were on the floor above Mr. sirn.nr 80
several gallant attempts to reach tho sano,,s
story, but failed in each. '''0 'e'onu
1onn ~. simpson lived with his wife and
ioul cniidrcn in one and half story
. lame mouse ~ the corner of Bancroft and Mul-
iora street, one block north of tho Wadixon
street cable power house. These cbiIdror, 80
orpha and lola Strader aged resnectivoly n
ana years, daughters of Mrs. sJmnson hv 81
former marriage; Ray Simpson, somewhat over
., the IDOL OF the family, and 2-year.old 'Rjaia
bright black-eyed little fellow. Mr.. and Mrs.
. linpson slept In the front room on the ground
anu Win tnem the baby. while the two
girls and Ray occupied The room directly obove
tne apartments Of the parents
MT simpson awoke yesterday morning about
% CLOCK and said something to his wife about
IL peing time for him to get up. as he wished TO
come In town on an early car suddenly
iouu snrieK from the room in which tho chill
dren slept was heard, and Mr.. simnsoI, spranr
from the oed and rushed up the stairs. only to
ma tho whole upper floor u mass If flames
re trieo TO make his way into the room where
the children were, but was driven bnck by the
scorehing flames and dense smoke The
asonizeu parcnt called the children
~ names, but received no answer.
Inc terrible thought OF his loved ones inprfs
oned within the fiery furnace caused him to
make another attempt. 1t was futile lie could
not breathe. and the hot atmosphere almost
sufocated him. lie thought OF the window
that opened into the room from the front and
he rushed down stairs, whore he was mot by his
errihe1 wife, who had the baby in her arms.
The front door was locked. the key was on the
E00r but the father. in lie vii
time, passed out through the back door and
around TO the front of the house Mrs Simpson
loiiowed, ana stood in the front yard watching
her husband he climbed to the top
OF the front porch in the vain hope
that he could reach the little ones through the
bedroom window. He kicked in the window
and tried to enter but was met by angry flames.
Again he called his chidren's names but re-
ceiyed no response. Finally he put one leg
through the window and reached out toward
the bed at the LETT of the window upon which
the little boy was sleeping. The result was
almost disastrous TO the reseuer as he inhaled
tho flames and his face, hair and hands were
scorched in moment Overcome for an in-
s,ant he reeled and fell, but fortunately back
ward and out OF the window upon the roof of
the porch. The fresh air revived him aud he
saved himself from falling to the ground.
Meanwhile the cries of the mother had
brought the neighbors to the scene, and H.
street cable, had telephoned to fire department
headquarters for assistance Some one in tho
crowd hnd secured ladder, and Anthony
Brandon, gripman on the cable road, tried to
enter the room in the same manner as Simpson.
But tho flames had gained complete control,
and the effort was useless.
About this time the gong OF the fire apparatus
was heard, and in a mornen. the hose wagon
from headquarters came laundering down
Madison street A lightning coupling was made
at the corner OF Natchez street and the horses
drew the heavy wagon over the ungraded
ground, through neighbor's garden, and the
first stream OF water struck the house as the
upper floor fell with a crash Mr.. Simpson
stood in front of the house in measure stunned
by the awful situation and experiences through
which he had gone, and 1t was with difficulty
that he indicated to Captain Hunt the spot in
which he thought the bodies We're The stream
was thrown as indicated, and Captain Hunt
and Clarence Moore, both of hose company No.
], entered the house under cover OF the water.
The hea: was intense, and in moment Moorcs
face and neck were bistered, while Hunts
hands suffered badly. The search was OF short
duration, and the three charred forms were To-
Gated where the bed had stood. heavy
rubber blanket was placed over them and
Coroner Horton notified. lie arrived before
O'Clock and commenced an official examination
into the affair. The bodies OF the two girls
were lying in q position such RS would indicate
that they had been clasped in each others arms
when suffocated. There was nothing to indi-
cate that either had made any struggles or had
attempted to escape from the room. The heads
shoulders, lower limbs and arms as far up as
the elbows were burned to a crisp. One foo; and
one hand belonging TO the body OF orpha
were burned off. The body OF Ray was found
few feet from those of his sisters and was un-
recognizable save for the size and position in
which itlay. The remains of the three bodies
were taken to Bonney d stewart ana immedi
ateiy prepared for burial.
Mrs b /. auckland, who lives next door, was
one of the first to heed the cries FOR help. she
found the frantic mother standing in the street.
holding her baby in her arms aud clad
only in her night dress She per-
suaded Mrs. Simpson to come 70 her house
atti sup,iied her and the baby with clothing
The mother was Frustrated with grief, and tho
bahy seemed to realize that something was
wrong and cried as If his little heart would
break.
Mr.. simpson is still suffering from the burns
he received and the smoke ana flames Inhaled.
II is doubtful if he will be able to work for
time TO come.
John IL. simpson is q blacksmith by trade,
and also n man of considerable inveativc gem
Jus. lie came to Seattle two years ago from
Fountain county, Ind. where he hau been en-
gagged in business. but had lost nearly all
he had by indorsing motto Tor
was no, successful and finally no came West.
since he has been in seattle he has worked at
tines for the Madison Street tsoie company.
David : Galloway of the Duwamish dairy, and
" W buchanan Il sons, carriage and wagon
apnfncturers lie has not had steady work
and nreyious to tho calamity of yesterday has
hecn ont of work for two months W nat Iittc
money he has been enabled 70 earn has been
eaten yip in supporting his family. rue helsa-
bors ono and All. speak in the highest terms Of
The family and say that they are IN destitute
circumstances. ,,,,,
soon after the fire. Homer u. Wheeler who
Iives on Madison street, near Matches, s'ATIeH
subscriptlon among the neighbors for the feiiei
OF Mr. Simpson. IL was reported last evening
that the amount had reached s6e-
All the worldly possessions OF the ian'IY were
swept away by the fire. Four OF hNe HusHIC"
dollars would cover TIE ae.uai US - 'e
fnrni,ure. bu. among other things lost was
model Of AN agricultural implement upon
which Mr.. s;upsol had spent much ulne' ana
concerning which he had great hopes f"peLs
rsiatiyo 10 several patents were aiso "esu"Heo'
He was a soldier OF the late war ana "'' "a ms
much-p rizcd documents relating 10 MS se1'A'e'
also went up in flames. -, -,
The funeral services over the remains Oh tNe
children will be held at IL ociocA tpAN '4'''H'',S
~ porpey 4 Stewards, Rev, John T, Damon ON
c;stinr Tn, intermeut will take plSce al LaAe
View cemetery. ,,,h,,. sd
Tho house. owned by George "ineholk' anu
valued Mt about $500 Is fetal loss anu was ''o'
insured The cause of the fire Is no' N"o" d.
Mr. simpson states that there was no AM Ht'-
stsirs and no fire in the kitehe"' AS ~N''
theory is that of mice aud matches
North Seattle