Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-01-26
Death in the Flames.

Wednesday morning, Jan II, abou
1 o'clock H. E. Rice of Corduroy, Ell
county, with six horses lost their lives
| in the flames which destroyed the barr
at that place.
Mr. Rice drove the hack and carried
| the mail between that place and Kane
1t was his custom to sleep in the sta
BILE and room had been prepared fol
| his use. His father spent part of Tues
| day evening with him and when the
latter left for home his son was practic-
ing on the telegraph instrument, being
| anxious to learn the art.
About o'clock Mr. Rice was awak
| ened by the cry Of fire. the barn was
in flames and it was impossible to res
cue either Edwin or any of the horses
1t was evident that the fire originated
in the room occupied by the unfortu
| nate man as that end of the barn was
DESTROYED when the fire was discovered
By the position of the young mans
body in the ruins he had made an effort
TO escape, but before he reached the
window had been overcome by the
smoke and flames.
Fl. +. Rice was born on July 30, 1877,
and was in his 22d year.
The departure of a soul 50 young and
pure from this earth seems to require
that the living should pay tribute OF
public respect TO his memory. This
young man was raised by his grandpa
rents of Middle Lancaster who took
him when quite small, at the death of
his mother. He stayed with his grand
parents until two and half years ago,
when he went to Elk county to live
with his father.
He was well known in Harmony,
Whitestown and Middle Lancaster,
which was his old home To those who
knew him and knew him best it was as
if deaths call had relieved "A spirit al
ready so purified as to wing its flight
straightway into the arms Of the bless
ed Savior.
Well is it in this earthly vale of tears
that the bereaved are vouchsafed by
kindly Providence a glimpse into the
eternal beauties behind the gates ajar,
when weeping eyes. in Gods own faith,
may behold the loved and lost caught
up in Heavens very portals and carried
thence into the everlasting joys prepar-
ed for those who have truly loved and
served the Divine Master.
Truly hath it been said 1t is not all
of life to live, nor all of death to die. .
For the life and death Of the righteous
exercise a magnetic power over the
souls of those who witress them, and it
endows them with wealth of riches
compared with which the dross Of earth
is of no account.
There were many Butler county
friends to whom the tidings of his
death brought shock of sorrow, for he
had knit many ties of friendship here
which death can only sever.
The eyes that were closed by the
angel that night are opened wide again
by the shining spirit of resurrection and
now look down upon you like stars out
of dark armament, waiting and beck
oning to surviving father and brother.
Dearest Edwin, thou art gone
70 the place we call our home,
Yet we would not once recall,
Though you were the love of all.
For we know you are at rest,
In our Sayiours loving care,
God has given, God has taken,
And we miss you everywhere.
Rest dear Edwin, at Jesus feet,
For he bids his children come,
Trusting some day we may meet,
When our labors here are done.
A friend in sorrow,
b. NJ ii.