Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-03-04
THE TWO VICTIMS
Of the Boarding House Fire to Be
Buried To-Day.
There Appears to be No Proba-
billy of an Official Investigation,
Although the Facts all Tend to
Substantiate the Theory Of In
cendiarism.
cendiariSna.

John and Percy Henderson, the vic
tins of the South Side fire, will be
buried this afternoon at Greenwood
cemetery. Rev. L. w. Roberts, the
pastor of the Wesley NJ. E. Church,
will officiate at the services, which will
be held at the Farrell residence, this
afternoon at two o'clock. A black cas-
ket and a white casket lie together in
the parlor of the house where the ter
rible castrophe occurred, and contain
the mortal remains of the dead father
and son. Between the caskets is a
large cross of beautiful cut flowers,
presented by the employees who work
ed with Henderson at the LaBelle pot
terry. The potters will all turn out to-
day at the funeral.
On each side of the front door of the
house are two crepes, one black and one
white, signifying that age and youth
are both stricken by death and that a
double funeral will take place. Will
liam Henderson, brother of the dead
father, arrived yesterday from Balti-
more. Another brother, Joseph, is eX-
pected from Baltimore in the morning.
Thomas Faden, grandfather Of John
Henderson, arrived from Letonia, o.,
last evening.
The third brother Samuel, lives in
this city, and was present at the Far
rell residence yesterday when a Reg
lister reporter called. Asked for his
opinion regarding the origin of the fire
he said he did not care to make state
ment at this time. but added that the
affair was a mystery. He said that
there was no probability that his
brother and son had gone to bed smok-
ing, and that it was his opinion that
the fire did not start from this cause.
There is some difference of opinion
about the origin of the fire. Although
all the circumstances and facts point TO
the idea of incendiarism, yet number
of people refuse TO accept this solution,
as they cannot imagine what motive
any person would have for committing
such a deed. Notwithstanding the evil
dence against such an idea, these peo-
pie still cling to the theory that Hen
derson and his son caused the fire by
smoking in bed.
This is only conjecture, however,
while the lamp intact standing on
stand on the opposite side of the room
from where the fire started, the pipes
in their accustomed place on the man
tel. the oil on the floor, the water IN the
oil can. and the unmistakable proofs
of the fire starting at the foot OF the
bed. and the fact that when Brady came
in everything was all right-all these
things tell different tale. Those who
oppose this view argue that Hender-
son was a quiet, inoffensive man, and
that no person would attempt TO
wreak spite on him in such diaboli-
cal manner They say there could
have been no motive, yet they do not
know and the victims can not tell as
dead men can say nothing nor give up
their secrets. The fact that the broth
er of the dead man refuses to make
statement is in itself significant, IN the
minds Of some.
Brady. the other victim CT the fire,
was able TO be up and around the Far
rell house yesterday when the reporter
called. His forehead, where he was
most seriously burned, was bandaged
and the rest of his face was also badly
Drowned by the burns. He was suffer
ing considerable pain, but said that he
did not anticipate and serious result
as he had presence enough Of mind to
keep his mouth closed, and consequent
" did not inhale any of the flames.
AS stated in yesterdays Register no
post mortem examination was held as
Squire Schultze stated that the Prose
cutting Attorney refused to order an eX-
animation and that if he did it without
legal authority the expense would fall
on parties other than the county. lie
refused again yesterday to make any
examination unless the payment OF the
costs would be insured