The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1899-02-15


A holocaust hardly secosrf 70 that that
occurred at Kellettville this county a lit
tie more than a year ago occurred on
Church Hill, near Fast Hickory, on Mon
day last. Two children of Lon Andrews
were burned to death in his house, which,
with all it contained, was totally con-
sumed. Another child was so badly
frozen that amputation of its hands may
be Necessary.
About noon Monday, Mrs. Andrews
went to the barn to water a horse. Mr..
Andrews carries the mali from Eudeavor
to West Hickory and return twice daily
and was away from home. Mrs. Andrews
united and led the horse to water and re-
turning, tied the horse and then threw
some fodder into the manger and started
to return to the house. AS she left the
barn she was met by the oldest little boy
aged between four and five who told her
the house was on fire. Hurrying to the
house she found the kitchen seething
mass OF smoke and flames and the front
window already falling in. EShe opened
the door and the flames drove her back.
1t was impossible to enter the house and
she neither saw nor heard anything of
the children. Telling the little boy to
run to Mr.. Alabugh's less than half
mile away, she ran to Mr. Bailey's to get
assistance. On the way back she found
the boy who had tried to follow his moth
er Before he could be gotten to place of
warmth he was frozen as above stated.
The house was a plank frame, l6x24
and fronting on the road the long way,
fronting east, d set up off the ground
on posts about two feet high and banked
with earth. 1t was divided by a parti-
ton running through the short way.
That part on the south side was the
smaller and used for kitchen. A stove
stood in the kitchen and behind it in bed
the second child lay asleep when Mrs.
Andrews went to the barn. The baby,
under year of age, lay asleep, also, in
rocking chair in front of the stove. The
oldest boy was in the kitchen when
his mother went out. The barn is
on the west side of the house, distant
about 20 rods. The place where the horse
was watered is near the N. w. corner of
the house, diagonally on the other side of
the house from the kitchen. In returning
from the barn the path or road runs
around the south side of the house 1t is
possible that the oldest boy ad under
taken to help along the fire in the stove
by trying to put oil on il from can that
stood out on the porch, and that the fire
originated in this way. OF course this is
not certain, while possible aud probable
No remains OF the baby could be found.
Some remains of the second child were
found and in such place as seeming to
indicate that he had awaked and had
tried to make his way out.
In some respects this awful tragedy is
without parallel in the history of the
county All the circumstances
sleeping children, the short time and dis
tance away, the hopeless effort TO rescue,
the attempt of the wee fellow to escape
Tor himself, the stout-hearted four-year-
old giving the warning and then with
only the thin clothing worn in the house
bravng the cold and wind and snow in
half-mile trip, the mother crazed and
frantic with grief running tor assistance,
the father summoned home only to find
house and home and goods gone and his
little ones taken and in such sad way
conspire to paint picture Of horror and
terror that can be contemplated only
with shudder.
The names of the two children burned
were Merle Dewey, and Tony Wray,
aged respectively 10 months, and years
and months. The boy who is so Sc
verely frozen is named Orvah Leonzo
and aged years and months.