The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-07

Mss Hslen N scke a beautiful y0AnE
woman. was badly burned on her face and
hands last evening at TIE residence OF her
sister. Mrs ". Bloch, corner Of Sixth ave-
Eue and Le0cra street, While bTavsiy al
tempting 80 extingUisn The flames that
threatened destruction 20 rhe house.
Taree times she entered the fiery furnace
and id her Dest 70 conquer the demon.
Three times sac aas driven back, the last
time burned ard nearly overcome. A. size
lay IN bed last nagat Suffering from the
burns taat may leave their traces on her
face and irarssas always. she declared that
al there was 10 II was simply that she
tried 70 put ont a fire Eg4t had started
from the Cs1rssfE mas tree.
II was the old, old story. At aftermath
Christmas tree. just 70 please rhe ch4ldren.
a wicked candle, ard fire 10 end IN grief
an afternoon fun q pleasure.
Ar. and 3irs. William Bloch with their
family live At the corner OF Lsnorz street
and Sixta avenue They owa lhe prop
erty and have pleasant home, Mr.. Bloch
Is one OF the prOpr.etogs OF the Pioneer
saloon Al rs West Columbia street, When
Christmas pzt III lis appearance the
BlOchs had a splendid time. and 10 please
the children had a pretty Christmas tree.
Mrs. Bioch decided 70 give party 70 some
OF her friends yesterday afternoon and
sent out ay.aatI01s. Mss Helen Miscke
assisted Ter II entertaining, and the after
noon passed OF pleasantly. About s.i5
o'clock the party was getting ready 10
break up Al tais time al we're in the
parlor or dining room. The children were
playing on the floor.
Those present were: Mrs. John Chosen,
Mrs. William Dreamer and her two child
rem. Mrs. ". HeaSel. Mrs. II. X. Nom
mensen and her 9Ho children. Mrs. ..
overTneyer. Mrs. William Bloch. the
hostess. her Two children and Miss Helen
Mlscke.
In "A room adjoining the parlor was the
Christmas tree. ard on a table near at
hand were all the Christmas presents re-
ceived by the "a mily. The tree was Wei
lighted with wax tapers. but there were
no presents upon r. Mrs. Bloch had the
tree put in place simply 70 please the chill
dren. who always delight in the twinklins
% the small lghts among the evergreen.
Suddenly someone noticed that the room
IN which the tree was located vas afire.
Flames were ieaping from branch TO
branch and running up toward the ceiling
ike go many little imps out for a lark.
The curtains % the front windows caught
fire and blazed up at an alarming rate.
No sooner was the IRE discovered than
the party was thrown into a state OF
Wild excitement. Some OF the women
grabbed their children ard ran out or
the house. yelling fire at the top 81 their
lungs. Others rushed about without any
excitement Miss Siscks was the coolest
and most courageous Of the lot. She ran
out and got a pan OF water and dashed
it unon the flames Twice more did she
repeat this operation. each time entering
the room and using The water to the
best advantage. never thinking OF the
danger she was in. Some people say that
she was nearly overcome the last time
and that she was dragged back out OF the
room by man who mad answered the
Gale Of the frightened women. She de-
MES this. however and says that she
walked out without assistance. However
that may be. there was so much excite
meut that 70 will De a difficult matter
Miss Miscke was found 70 De badly burned
on her face. especially under her eyes. and
on her hands She was carried into the
next house and cared for. In the mean
tire the neiEhb0rs had been fighting the
Ere and had Il well under control when
the fire apparatus came laundering up
81 answer 20 a telephone alarm The
Christmas tree was hurled out Of the
window ard the Ore was extinguished.
When it was believed - De all ont one OF
she arevueu discovered that the flames
had crcpt into closet and were b8sily
engaged IL catiaE up Mrs, Bloch's dress
os 70 Is said that ore handsome black
silk was ruined Ths dTemen saved con-
siderable Of the clothing ard thu dan
age wts confined - ore room. The car
Pet furniture and Al che Christmas pres
euts that were stacked up on the table
ware complet Ely destroyed
Tre news - the accident SPREAD rap
ftfv ard throughout TIE evening friends
a the family were continually caItinr 70
express tbeir sympathy sor Miss NTscke.