The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-02-29
EIGHT LIVES LOST.

"
Fashionable Baltimore visited by Death
Dealing Flames-Many Victims Caught
as in a Trap and Either Burned in Their
Rooms or Dashed to Pieces by Jumping
from Windows-Scenes of Horror and
Deeds Of Bravery.
BALTIMORE, Md, Feb. PA fire in
the fashionable district of North Balti-
more about eight o'clock yesterday
morning was the cause of seven deaths,
and sent a feeling of horror into hum
dreds of homes in the city where most
OF the unfortunate victims well known
and highly respected.
The fire started in the basement of
1906 North Charles street, the residence
CT James =. Armiger, one of the best
known MN in the city.
\ large crowd was at the burning
building almost in a moment ana look
ing up saw the occupants of the house
aroused from their slunbers. Il after
the other appearing at the windows IL
their night robes.
Lou Whiting. a cOlored servant VINO
was employed next door to the Armi-
ger residence, first discovered the
flames and gaining an entrance over
the rear fence he dashed through the
building arousing the inmates, most OF
whom were still in their beds. But
quick as was his action. the flames
were more rapid and egress by the
s~taircascs was shut off before half OF
the &c occupants of the dwelling had
left their rooms.
The servants on the fourth floor
could get no lower than the c
story where they were driven into the
sleeping room OF the other inmates OF
the house. With closed doors behind
them to keep out the flames and 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 penned up in th@
building II persons crying or Shrek
ing for assistance whereby TO get out
OF the death trap.
When the fire was under control,
and the firemen made Il search of the
ruined residence, Mr.. Armiger was
found in the hallway. When Whiting
dashed up stairs with the alarm of
fire Mr.. Armigcr left his wife in the
care of a colored man and went To
awaken the other inmates CT the
house. He had been overcome by the
smoke and flames. and breathed his
last Us ne was carried into the open
air.
William Il. Riley, Il son-in-law of Mr..
and Mrs. Armiger. was found dead
near by. He, with his wife and two
children, had been seen al the third
story window. and Mrs. Riley had
been taken out by the ircmcn. But
before the rescuers could return to
the window Mr.. Riley, with his TIVE
children clasped in his arnS. sue
cumbed 70 the smoke and flames. TN
the floor above Were found the bodies
of Mrs. Marion Chamberlain. GaugA-
te- of Mr.. and Mrs. Amiger. and her
three-year-oid child. James. The last
person t. b. found in the wrecked
building was Harold Manuel. aged 80,
Il guest, who arrived from New York
last Thursday. He was Il member of
the broker firm of Turner II Manuel,
81 Wall street. New York.
Mr.. Armiger was an importer of
diamonds and fine iewelry and did a
big business in this city and through
out the southern states. For 80 years
he had been one of the best-known
merchants of the city.
The scene in the parlors of DR.. L. 3.
Bachelors residence, where the
charred and bruised bodies were EAR
ricd, was narrowing. Mr.. Arni-
ger was burned to a char
around the upper part of his
body. The white hair around his zen
cradle head was matted and clOtted
with blood and cindcrs. Mr.. Riley
died from burns and s~uffocatiOn. Mr..
Manuel was also terribly burned. The
body of James Chamberlain. was q
blackened cinder. The two Riley child
rem were killed by the su~ffocating
smoke.
The house was completely Quilted.
The monetary loss is estimated at S25,'