The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-12-11
LUDICROUs INCIDENT.
In Connection With the Escape Of z.
Wathey From the Burning Building.

T. J. wathey, who, with his wife and
son lived in the block, tells thrilling
story. His father and mother also ROOM
ed in the block and they were early
awakened. T. j. Wathey was awaken
ed by his father rapping on the wall.
He quickly awoke his wife and four
years-old child and donning his trous-
ers, helped them to the head of ths
stairway. He then went back to put on
his shoes. The fire by this time was
making much headway; and smoke fill-
ed the corridors The woodwork in the
hallway was burning. There was lino-
leum' on the floor of the room in which
Wathey was dressing. He got one shoe
on and reached for the other when tha
flames burst through. The pressure
from below was so great that the llneo-
leum was lifted from the floor and tha
shoe went sailing toward the ceiling.
Wathey caught 1t as II came down and
made break for the door.
Then he heard someone In the hall
above. He succeeded in reaching
woman. who was blinded and confused
by the smoke. She was running around
in circle and without aid could not
have escaped from the building. Wathey
got her Strengthened out and started
down stairs. BY this time his own
safety was imperiled and he made his
way down stairs as rapidly as he could.
He did not think to stop for his watch
and some money that he had in his
clothes but went down as he was.
Here he found that his family and his
father and mother had reached the
street in safety. He lost all his property
and clothing save the little he had on.
and is out of pocket at least 1000 He
is employed as a molder at the Aultrnan
company's shops.
His brother. A. ]. Wathey, roomed in
one of his rooms and he
WAS AT A DANCE,
had on his best suit of clothes and a
complete outfit. He lost considerable
money, that was boarded in box with
the money of his father and mother.
This money in the box was of con-
siderable amount, but the exact sum is
not stated. T. Wathey. the father, lived
with his wife in rooms just over where
the blaze was the hottest In the early
hours of the conhagration. Their saw
ings were kept in a box, with the sons
savings as well. There was considerable
These were all left behind in the rush
for safety. 49,.
Mr.. ,Wathey, the elder was much ex-
cited and furnished one of the
LUDICROUS INCIDENTS
of the occurrence After seeing shat
his wife was out he found that things
were getting mighty hot. so he rushed
out into the hall. The spirit of saving
something from the catastrophe took
possession of him and he grabbed the
first thing he could find. 1t proved to
be a basket filled with waste paper,
that was standing near the door of his
apartments. With this salvage gripped
tightly he rushed down the corridor and
to safety. He had on neither shoes nor
stockings, but found a piece of paper
and laid II on the sidewalk. For 80
minutes ne stood on that piece OF paper,
on the sidewalk in hfs bare. feet,
spectators being too much interested in
the fire to notice him. When his con-
dition was noticed he was standing in
the position described. with his hands
firmly gripping the waste paper basket,
while he watched his money and belong-
ings go up in smoke. 4,