The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-24

estimate has yet been made OF the loss. but
Il IL thought the contents are worth at least
$4,000. The house was insured IN the Ger
mania Insurance Company. of New York.
for $500. which will fully cover the damage.
The news OF the disaster quickly spread
over the city, and In an hour a great crowd
had gathered in front OF the house. Prayers
for the dead and the afflicted were lifted
up in almost every church in the city at
sincere sympathy and regret were uttered
from every pulpit and repeated in the house
holds OF the many friends and acquaintances
OF the unfortunate family.
The scene IN the Darlors of DIR. Batch
elors residence, where the charred and
bruised bodies were carried, was narrowing
Even the undertakers and their assistants
used 10 scenes OF death, turned away at
times half-sickened. Mr.. Armiger was
burned TO crisp around the upper part of
MS body The white hair around his vener-
able head was matted with blood and Gin
GERS His face and forehead were badly
Mr.. Riley died from burns and suffoca-
uon- He was rather stout and muscular
man The burns were chiefly about his
race. neck and shoulders. His face was ter
Tidy distorted and wore an expression of
AWFUL agony. His left leg and side were
slightly burned and there was a lfvid fire
marx across his chest.
DIR. Manuel was terribly burned and his
horribly Scared face and body twist
ed 10 one side, as though he had died only
slter making supreme effort for his life.
dreaming IN startling contrast on the
burned and blackened fingers OF Mr.. Man.
uels left hand glistened a handsome dia-
glttering gem in the center Of the head.
Strong men who were standing In the
parlor turned their heads away when two
qqIoe a 1ners brought In the BODY or little
James Champlin. grandson OF Mr.. Armiger
woman standing near the parlor door, in
the hall. tainted. The child was a black
ened cinder. Smoke and fire mad done their
fearful work Even the throat and nostriIs
we're burned inside. His little white night
gown was dabbled and spattered with Gin
ders and dark stains from the burned
The two Riley children were killed by the
Sunocating smoke. They were not as badly
burned as the others. but their faces were
Diackened from the bursting of blood YES
sells.
Mrs: Letitia Riley. who is so cruelty be-
reaved, is lying the home of DIR. Batch
eior In semi-stupor. seemingly uncon-
scious OF her irreparable loss, and suffering
great physical agony The physicians say
however, that her wounds are more PAIN
fui than serious and that the only obstacle
to her complete and speedy recovery will
oe the awful shock she has sustained and
VIII again experience when the full know
edge OF the dreaded thing which has come
to her makes itself clear to her mind
BALTiMORES FATAL FIRE RECORD.
To-day's tragedy is the third of a similar
character which has visited this city during
the past year. The first was that in which
Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas w hitridge were killed
by falling from a ladder, down which Mr..
Whitridge was endeavoring to carry his
wife, after having refused the services of
the rremeu. This fire occurred on jan Is.
1875, at IL West Bi9dle street. The other re-
suited in the death of Mrs. Roscoe b. Heath,
.. daughter OF the late Commodore" Kilt
son. OF Minneapolis. and occurred at % West
Mount Royal avenue, on March a. 1885.
Deputy Fire Chief McAfee, to-day's hero.
was presented with a medal at that time
for heroism in endeavoring to rescue Mrs.
Heath more recent disaster was that at
the old Fr0nt-5treet Theater. on Dec Is, In
which five men. three women AMI fifteen
children lost their lives during a selseless
panic caused by false alarm of fire.
A coroner's jury tonight found that the
fire was due to defects in the furnace, and
commended the fire department In general
and Deputy Chief McAfee in particular.
An Epileptic Girl Burned to Death.
NEW YORK. Feb. 3.-Lillian Cecilia
Lyons, the fourteen-year-old daughter of
Daniel Lyons. Of Brooklyn. was burned to
death in her be 1room to-day. The fire start
ed through the accidental explosion of an oil
stove, which had been used TO heat the room.
Lillian. who was epileptic, was in bed
at the time. She was unable TO move with
out assistance. The bed clothes quickly be-
came gnifed and the girl was enveloped in
flames before she could be rescued. The
screams of the girl attracted the attention