The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-22
met A fRICHTfUL DEATH.
"Dick" McHugh Smothcred and
Roasted in an Evil Resort.
TOO DRUNK TO SAVE HIMSELF
An Inmate Painfully Burned While
Trying to Rescue him-Mcllueh Had
kicked Over a Table Containing
Lamp-CorOuer's Inquest.

Death In a horrifying and revolving
manner came to "Dick" McHugh. of
Penn avenue, in a house of i'll fame In
Center street at lilo last night. Nc
Hugh was wellknown character
about town. He went into the old
Drug Store" about II o'clock and was
considerably under the influence of
liquor.
In the parlor which is situated about
the center of the building was a lamp
stand and on it II large lamp. He
kicked this over and set fire to the
place and to his own clothes.
Florence Cassidy, one of the inmates.
tried to save him and pulled him out
of the room to the head of 1.-The stairs.
where she tore half OF his clothes of
and got her hands painfully burned.
The fire and smoke then drove her
away, and McHugh ran in u maudiin
way into room in the front OF the
building where later his body, roasted
brown and naked, except few tatters
of clothing at his heels and around
his neck, was found stretched on a bed.
The young mans mother was i'm
mediately notified and she went fran
tic. 1t required much attention to
quiet her.
Had Visited Another Evil Resort.
McHugh was given to dissipating.
At 1880 he was seen on Lackawanna
avenue by the police officers and he
went into RObb's saloon: from there
he started toward the alley and visit
ed another evil resort before going to
the one where he met his doom.
The house where the tragic event
happened Is used upstairs and down for
immoral purposes. Bob" Davis and
Clara Weichal are In copartnership on
the ground floor and the second story
of the old ramshackle is rented by a
young woman styling herself Gertie
West. The number of the place is 213
Center street.
When McHugh entered the house the
proprietress was absent: she had been
to the theater and had not returned
In the house at the time We're three in
mates. The deceased was the only man
present. Two of the women were in
their rooms; one was reading and the
other preparing to retire.
The third was in the parlor with Nc
Hugh. He was ill-tempered. she said.
and threatened to kick the lamp down.
She left him momentarily, she says and
went in to the kitchen, and while she
was there he upset the lamp and was
the author of his own misfortune. The
two women in their rooms Immediately
left the house, half clad; the Cassidy
woman ran from the kitchen and made
a futile attempt to save McIiugh.
The room where McHugh was burned
is very small one, probably not more
than 6 by feet. The fire did not reach
that far. which shows that he died from
the burns produced by his flaming
clothes. The smoke undoubtedly helped
to extinguish his life. but the apparent
cause of death was the burns. His
body was baked, particularly his face,
which was swollen to twice it's natural
size. His features presented a terrible
sight.
Coroner LongStrect was notified and
he empaneled the following jury: DR..
Pennypacker, +. F. Madden, Frank
Scholl. Charles Moore, II. II. James and
Il. f. Blewitt.
They viewed the body in the room
where it lay and the inquest was ad-
journed until . O'Clock this morning at
Coroner Longstreet's office. He granted
permission for the removal of the re-
mains and Cusick's undertaking man
arrived at | a. m. and took the body to
the home of McHugh's mother over
Golden's hotel, on Penn avenue.
Police Arrest the Inmates.
The four women in the bagnio were
taken to the central police station in
cab by Lieutenant Davis Patrolmen
Lewis and Lowry. They will be held
for the hearing before the coroner.
The Phoenix chemical engine met
with an accident on the way to the fire
by the loOsening of one of the wheels.
Engineer George was thrown off ana
he sustained severe bruises. The fire
was extinguished before serious damage
had been done to either the building or
its furnishings.
HUYLER'S COCOA AND CHOCO-
LATES are unsurpassed for their
purity and deliciousness of flavor. All
grocers.
nr Nm uuoll'c rrour OOwdcr ,ho Ca vnri&,