Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1896-02-27
EIGHT LIVES LOST.

Fashionable Tzisimorw Visited sy Death
D>.fisx FIsu-. Maay ttetisa. Caught
- IN n Trap and k1fhrr Bura-a In Th~ir
Rooms D-.h~<.fo Pieces bs Jumpinx
frcnn wsndou.- -.srn~- sf Horror ana
Deeds Of bravery.
BALTIMORE. Md. Feb. "A FIRE in
the fashionable district - North RaIti-
more about eight o'clcck yesterday
morning was the eause Of seven deaths.
and sent feeling of horror into hun
dreds of homes ia the city where most
of the unfortunate victims sveli known
and highly respected
The fire started in the basement Of
isO5 North Charles street. the residence
of James K ArmiEer. ono of the h-St-
known men in the eitv.
A large crowd was at the bnrning
building almost in moment and io.sa<
ing mp saw the occupants 10 the house
aroused from their slnmi.~r~. one after
the other Appearing at the windows in
their nigh; rclrrs-
Lou Whiting. eolor,i servant who
was employed next dpor to the Armi-
ger residence. trSf discovered the
flames and gaining an entrance over
the rear fence he dashed ;hroagh the
building aruuSing the inmates. most of
whom were still in their hedS4 Bat
quick as was his action. the flames
were more rapid and eyrsSs hy the
stairca<es was shut Of before half Of
the Is occupants of the dwelling had
left their rseom~.
The servants on the fourth floor
could get M lower than the ~eeoBd
story here they WERE driven into the
sleeping rooms Of the other inmates Of
the house. With closed doors behind
them to ke~P out the flames aud smoke
the servants too rushed to the windows
crying piteously for help
Two maid servants who were in the
kitchen at the time the fire was dis
covered escaped By the rear door
There were then penne,i mp in the
building - persons crying or Shrek
ing for assistance whereby to get ont
Of the death trap
When the FIRE was under control.
and the firemen mad. sr<rch of the
ruined residence, Mr.. Armiger was
found in the hallway whea Whiting
dashed mp stairs with the alarm II
frs- Mr. Armixer lcft his wife in the
carr ~ colorsd man ani went TO
awaken the other innates ~ the
houS-. He had ie~n ovrrcon8.- by the
Snok~ ard famrS- and breathesi hi
last a. hc w4S carried into the ep-rn
air
William ". Riley. a So1-in-i2w - Mr.
ami MrS Armiger. wa> found dead
near hy lie. with his wife and ;sTo
Children. hal h-ssn seen a; the third
story winio--. aud Nr.. Riley had
h,,en taken oaf i,y the frem-n- Bat
l-rfo-c the r-scaers epuid return -
the window Mr. Riley. with his two
children ciaSps3 In his arms sue-
cumb..d to the smoke and fame TN
the fopr above we're found the bodies
/ ~ Nrs. Marisn Chamberlain. dzuSh-
ter Of Mr. and Nrs. Amiger. and her
/ three ys-ar-s,ld child Jansss- The last
person tn b. foznd in the wrecked
building was Harold Manuel aged n,
guest. who arrived from New York
last THURSDAY lie was member %
the broker firm 81 Turner 4 Manuel.
- Wall street. New York
Mr.. Armi-sr was an importer of
diamonds ana tine JcNelry and dbl q
big business IN this city AM th-oagh
out the southern states For - year,
he had l--en one Of the b--St-known
merchants ~ the city.
The scene in the parlors Of DIR. h II.
Batehelars residence. where the
ehzrred and bruised bodies were ear
ried- wa narrowing Mr.. Armi-
ger wa burned to char
around the HPpsr part of his
body The white hair around his ven
cradle head was matted and elottesi
with blo.ri aud einsiers- Mr.. Riley
died from burns and suffocation. MIR.
Manuel was also terribly burned- The
body % James Chamberlain. was a
blackeuesi cinder. The two Riley child
r-n werc killed by the suffocating
smoke
The house was completely Quilted.
The monetary lo>s Is estimated at se5--
O.o.