New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-24
A CHILD BURNED TO DEATH.
FATAL RESULT OF A SMALL FIRE IN
BROOKLYN.
TWO OTHER CHILDREN SEVERELY sCORCHED-
THE LITTLE ONE WAS PLAYING WITH FIRE


TWO OTHER CHILDREN SEVERELY sCoRcHED-
THE LITTLE ONE WAS PLAYING WITH FIRE
IN HER MOTHERS ABSENCE.
Della Cornwell. three years old. was burned to
death at o'clock yesterday afternoon at the
home OF her parents No. 2o9 South First-st.
Brooklyn while her sister Maude. five years old,
and two-months-od infant narrowly escaped
the same fate. Both Maude and the infant were
badly burned about the hands and body. and were
rescued from the burning building by neighbors.
/ Little Della, in the excitement had been forgot
ten. and 1t was not until the hremen had extln-
guished the flames thirty minutes later. that she
was missed by her mother. A search was made.
and the charred body found underneath a
bed where the little one had taken refuge from
the smoke and flames
Mrs Cornwell had LEFT the children only few
minutes before the fire broke out TO go to a neigh
boring grocery store to buy something for supper.
Her husband was also absent. When she learned
the fate of her child she became frantic with
grief and It is feared the shock may unbalance
her mind According TO the story told by Maude.
after her mother had gone To the store little
Della took a piece Of newspaper. and. ilghtlng II
at the kitchen stove. began To play hre, ana
nourished the blazing paper which set hre 10 the
rooms
Mrs Jane Hanson. who lived on the top moor oi
the building which Is a tw t-story bflck sUuct-
ure heard the screams of the children ana a'
first thought that they were being whipped by
/ the mother As the screams continued sh"
opened the door Of her apartments ana AT once
detected the smell Of smoke. Running GOWN
stairs she opened the kitchen door OF the Corn
well apartments. and saw the rooms IN names.
charles Franklin of No. 1913 South First-st.
directly opposite the house Of the Coinw"lls. was
sitting in the basement Of his house talking with
John Dresher and William Marinus al the time.
Iro had also heard the screams of IN" 'hlluIri.
and the thrce men ran 10 the basement ~ thc
burning building and met Mrs. Hanson In the
hallway lust as she leaving the ktrh, II
with m, infant child in her arms. Following inc
woman was the eldest child. Maude, whose
clothing was blazing -, -, -
Franklin wrapped his coat about the child, ex-
tinguishing the flames He then carried her To
his house. ,.
Mrs Cornwell returned at tnat time ana seeing
The children being taken out ana the smoke
pouring out Of the door. made no attempt ''
enter She believed that little Della had been
saved with the others and was being carrd l"r
bv some Of tie ncighbors. II was not untll she
had searched I'm vain for her missing on" hn
she ran to the burning building ana !np'"red
the nrenen To- try to save ner chlid. ! ne nie-
men wer, powerlcss e help her. as the place
vas 2 mass Of flames Several times Inc ro'hcr
fried 20 push her way through IN" hre mes ."
ontor the building. and WAS restrained Win uiI-
nculty. ,., .,o
Dr Moscly. ~ South Fourth ST. dressed the
h,,rns Of the two children. The infant was iounh
/ - be burned badly about IN" head whil"
Naude's burns were on the hands and BODY.
All tho household effects Of The 'orn"clis were
burned by thc FIRE and the family Is now penni-
less there having been 40 Insurance