The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-11-21
SAVED JUST In TIME.
Narrow Escape Of q LEDGER
From Burning Death Trap.
FIREMAN LATHAM's BRAVE DEED.
A Man Su6ocated snd Two women Sc
verely Burned In foarth street
Boarding House Fire.

Three persons had marrow escapes from
death in burning building on Fourth.
between Pike and Pine streets. yesterday
morning about $50 o'clock. One of them,
John Becker, vas rescued in an insensible
condition by Capt Joseph Latham. OF
Truck No. /, and the other two. Sarah
Keiso and Annie Paxon managed to
escape from the burning building by their
own efforts.
For about three months Sarah Kelso,
assisted by Annie Paxton, has been run
ming boarding house in two-story frame
structure of not over stable construction.
The upper part was used for bedrooms.
and on the ground floor there vas q kitchen
al the rear and large dining room in the
front. Yesterday morning the two women
arose as usual to get breakfast, working by
the light of kerosene lamp. Suddenly
there was flare up. The lamp seemed to
be on fire and both women approached it.
The next moment there was an explosion
and the lamp was blown into fragments.
The oil ignited and went in all direc
tons, striking Annie Paxon on the
face, arms and hands. burning
her severely and causing her to
jump through the nearest window. The
frame was torn from its fastenings and
went with her. while the panes of glass,
breaking, cut her in many places, thus add
ing additional pains to the burns already
received. Her com panion was fortunate in
escaping through the back door, but not
until her head was severely scorcned.
In q short time the flames spread
through the lower part of the house. meet
ing slight opposition from the thin parti-
tons. The smoke increased rapidly ia
density, pouring from the windows in
huge volumes and penetrating to the
rooms in the upper part of the building.
When the fire apparatus arrived in re-
Spouse TO q call from box "a il seemed as if
the lower part of the structure was ready
to go down. taking with it the upper story.
Chief Hunt had not gotten from his buggy
when someone in the crowd yelled: There
is a woman in the building
The chief and Latham rushed into the
building and made their way to the upper
story amidst binding smoke. The groans
of human being came to their ears from
a room down the hall, and separating one
went down either side. The groans led
Latham to room where he found the
body of q man stretched at full length on
the floor at the side of the bed. HIS
trousers were partly on, hut his feet were
bare, telling the story of how he had
jumped from bed, grabbed his clothes and
been overcome by smoke before being able
to make his escape. Latham picked up
the body and made for the head of the
stairs. but SO iense had the smoke become
that il is doubtful il he would have gotten
out save for the assistance of other fire.
men. The body of the unconscious man
was taken into an adjoining house, where
restoratives were administered After
considerable time the effects of the smoke
wore off and he recovered consciousness.
He gave his name as Becker and occupa-
ton as barber.
In fifteen minutes after the rescue the
fire had been put out. Chemical engine
No. and two streams from engine No. 2
were used. The fire was confined to the
lower story, and the loss is estimated at
$500. The insurance amounts to 500. 500
on the house and $500 on the contents.
G. c. Bohm owned the house and nearly
ali its contents