The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-12-15
FOUR CHILDREN BURNED to DEATH.
A Dwelling House at AugustOn, jerks
Township, Burns, aud Three children
are Crematcd, and the Forth, a Babe,
dies from its Injuries. Mother and
Father Severely Burned.

Another of those horrors, i'm which
four human beings lost their lives in a
most heart-rending manner, is reported
from the numbering hamlet known as
Auguston, located on the Tionesta Valley
Railroad, about seven miles down Spring
Creek from Sheffield Junction, in jerks
township, this county. The name of the
postoflice is Duhring.
The dwelling house occupied by ]. r.
Friedrich and family was burned to the
ground, and three children, two boys,
and girl, ranging in age from to
years, were consumed with it, A fourth.
an infant about one year old, was so bad
ly burned in its mothers arm that itdied
the following night. The fire occurred
early Monday morning of this week.
Mr.. Friedrich is the general foreman
for j. NJ. Bemis & Son, having charge of
large mill and store at Auguston. He
had risen about five o'clock in the morn
ing and was starting fire in cook stove,
using kerosino oil from a three-gallon
can to hurry along the slowly burning
wood. Immediately an explosion fol-
lowed, and the burning oil was spattered
and thrown in all directions, and envel-
oping the room in flames almost instant
ly. His own clothing caught fire and he
ran to the creek near by to extingush
them and then rushed back to rescue the
members of the family who were Sleep
ing mp stairs. Mrs Friedrich was awak-
ened and taking the babe in her arms
raised a window and stepped on the
porch roof, at the same time calling to
the other children to follow her. This
they attempted to do when the window
dropped down and the fastener snapped
shut. The mother dropped the babe into
the fathers arms below and then rushed
back to the window and finding it locked
broke the pane with her handand reached
to untasten the window. BY this time the
room was full of flame and smoke
which burst out upon her, burning her
terribly, and she was powerless to do
anything. All other entry to the build
had been entirely cut off, and the three
children could not be rescued
Their names and ages are, respectively,
OdIl dSeu D, HenulS ageu D, ana SJella
aged 8. The mother was terribly cut and
burned about the arms and body, so that
the flesh and some of the fiuger nails
dropped off the bones. She is at present
in very critical condition and her phys
icians can give no assurance other recov-
cry. The fathers burns are not serious
and, except the terrible anguish of mind
over his awful loss, is doing well.
Two other persons, Miss Carrie Gran
mis-, and Miss Gene Kelly, occupied
room on the first floor of the building
an0 escaped with slight burns.
Mrs. Fredricll, we understand, was in
jured some in leaping off the porch roof,
which she was obliged to do to save her
life. She is being tenderly cared for by
kind neighbors and every possible COM
fort given.
Drs. YiDgling and Stonecipher OF Mar
ienville have been with the injured much
of the time since the terrible occurrence,
and have done much 20 alleviate their
bodily sufferings.
The charred remains of the three nno-
cent little victims were removed from
the ruins as soon as the fire had suffic-
icntly subsided, and the scene was most
heartrending one indeed.