St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-04-02
Joseph Jefferson's Beautiful
Summer Residence De-
Stroyed by Fire.
His Family Cook Roasted to
Death by the Fierce
Flames.
Explosion of Leaking Gaso-
line the Cause Of the Con-
flagpation.
All the Actors Valuable
Paintings and Curios To-,
I tally Destroyed.

BUzzARD's BAY, Mass, April t.
Fire this afternoon totally destroyed
the beautiful summer residence OF Joe
Jefferson, situated OIL the shores of
ButtermiIk bay. and the family cook,
Helen McGrath, perished in the ruins.
Miss SimmondS, the housekeeper; Miss
Collins. the maid, and Miss McGrath
were in the cellar at noon, when Miss
McGrath discovered what she supposed
was water covering the floor. She called
the hired man, Mr.. Wright, who saw at
once that 1t was oil from the gasoline
tank. He shouted to the women to flee for
their lives, but they stood dumbfounded.
The gas communicated with the fire in
the furnace, and in an instant there was
aterrffic explosion. MIR. Wright caught
Miss SimmondS and Miss Collins and
fought his way to the open air. He en-
deavored to return for Miss McGrath.
when he was met with binding sheet
of flame. Burned and bleeding, he
heroically tried to gain entrance, but
was unsuccessful, and the unfortunate
woman was
Left to Perish.
when the cry Of fire was raised, Mrs.
Jefferson, who was ill in bed, hastily
arose and fled, not stopping to dress.
Willing hands covered her with buffalo
robes, and she was at once removed to
the home of Station Agent Bassett. She
had suffered a severe nervous shock,
and medical attendance was summoned.
The children, who were playing in the
attic, were the first to escape and seek
place of safety. The fire spread with
lightning-llke rapidity, the whole build
ing soon being a roaring furnace. The
entire population was soon at the scene,
and repeated attempts were made to
enter the building to save, if possible,
the unfortunate cook. The wind was
blowing gale from the southwest at
the time of the fire, which alone saved
the residences adjoining the Jetfersons'
from destruction.
Gov. Russell and A. Fl. Woods, who
were fishing in the vicinity, were soon
at the scene and called upon Mrs. Jeffer-
son. Mrs. Jefferson received a tele-
gram from her son from New York,
stating that he would be here Sunday,
which greatly relieved her, and she is
now resting as comfortably as possible.
She does not yet know that the body of
Miss McGrat his in the ruins, and
The Sad News
will be kept from her as long as pos
sible Miss McGrath has been in the
employ of the Jeffersons for twenty
years. The large and valuable painting
which was TO have been exhibited at
the worlds fair was totally destroyed,
together with Mr.. JeffersOn's costly
collection of curios. Gov. Russell
searched among the goods saved for
some wearing apparel for Mrs. Jeffer-
son, but not bit has been saved, and
Mrs. jefferson has only the clothes she |
had on when she ESCAPED from the |
burning building.
1t is estimated that $4,000 worth of !
paintings were consumed, and that the |
total loss will be $3.50, ,000 Mr. Jefferson |
is en- route to California, and word has |
been sent to him. The house, which |
was erected three years ago, was de- |
signed by the actor himself. 1t stood on |
a high bluff overlooking Buttermilk !
bay, and was model of modern archi-
lecture. The report of the fire spread |
rapidly, and over 1000 people were OH
the ground in a short time. A squad of |
special police is on duty tonight watch
ing the fire and guarding the property. |