Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-03-23
DEATH IN THE FLAMES
Rebecca Mulholland Meets a VIC
Ient Death at Fer Home.

lent Death at Her Home.
So prnb,bly FeIi While Going Down
stairs, Gu ,rying Lighted Lanip--her
nody harmed Almost beyond KecoEhi-
tion. ,,
Mrs. Rebecra Muholland who lived
alone at No. 929 Lowering avenue was
burned 10 death at her home shortly ue-
fore o'clock Tuesday morning. the pouy
WINS crenlated almost 10 crisp, les anu
arm being burned entirely on.
Ii was about ! o'clock when andrew
Anderson. who lives next donr 70 tt.e
house occupied by the deceased, aWoke
and heard the cracking Of flames ID the
Inflated house. The light from the flames
came streaming i'll AT the WlndoW aha
illuminated the entire room. Then iol-
lowed shower Of sparks past the WINDOW
and in few minutes the Anderson house-
hold was thrown into state q e&eiie,
house and that of Mr.. Anderson's had by
this time caught fire and both were
threatened with destruction. ~
Anderson rushed down stairs and made
strong efforts to burst open Mrs. Mtl-
| hollands door, but to no avail Ills cries
| Of alarm failed to arouse her anc not
| single sound of human voice came from
| the room Anderson got an ak and after
| mnch difficulty broke the door down.
| Ernest Byers, another neighbor, arrived
| hv this time, ANA both entered the
| house. They discovered that the fire had
started upstairs and was making ITS way
| to the first floor by the stairway;
The Cry OF fire started by Anderson was
taken up by other neighbors and soon the
entire community was aroused. The men
| carried water TO throw upon the flames
which could not be subdued. The Jury
Of the fire increased every moment llhtll y
sheet OF flame had enveloped the building.
At this innGture some one turned III an
alarm of fire from box No. 40, at Delaware
avenue and Van Buren, street The ire
men were prompt in responding. They
found the interior of the house fiery
IA soon as the flames were sufficiently
subdued to permit the tiremen to enter the
burning building, search was MADE ioi
the occupant. Mrs. Mulholland was louho
living Mt the foot of the stairs. late was
extinct. The remains were burned anc
churred almost beyond recognition. Pole,
Captain Kersey notified Deputy Coroner
The origin of the fire is unknown. The
suppositiOn is, however, that Mrs. Ml
holland, having occasion to get up IN w
! early morning TO 50 down stars. carFle[
4 in her hand lighted lamp which MA,
have exploded and set fire to the ruonl
| Another theory is that the unfortunat
woman fell the entire length OF the star
r way and that the lamp was broken IN III
t fall and set fire to her clothing and snbsc
+ auently the stairway, The stairway hal
e ing caught fire, and burned entirely away
! would lead to the belief that the flame
c must have started in close proximity !
c them, and spread throughout the building
5 The deceased was about b years old, an
IL was the widow of Philip Mulholland. VIII
Y died a few years ago. She owned "
l. house she lived in and some properly /
y the Ninth ward 1t is also said that tn
woman was accustomed to keeping larG
If sums Of money about the house, and m
&c her wealth was probably consumed in u
Al flames.
u The house Of Andrew Anderson adioii
II ing was badly damaged by the flame
tc which burned clear through the room
II the bedrooms The rooms were al
flooded with water. The Anderson tami
were compelled TO move out Of the hou
Tuesday morning aad seek other quarter
The loss to the destroyed property "
a. probably reach $1,000,
The Goroner's jury decided that q
burning Was accidental. The renal
w will be buried to-day by relatives.