The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-05-07
THE EFIRE'STRAGEDIES
San STORY OF HARRY ID. BONNET
HEAU'S DEATH.
MRS. WADDY THOMPSON, TOO.
MS MOTHERS PORTRAIT COST
BONNETHEAU HIS LIFE.

valuable Works of Art He Seized
uis Mothers Picture and Dashed
Do,vn a Lane of Fire to the Burn
ing wharf. Where He CIung to the
P,Jing Until His Hands We're
burned O6-Was a Leading Elk,
proutuent Business Man and
Irioue Character of Jacksonville.
Jacksonville. Fla, May 6-Suspense
.rd anxiety regarding the whereabouts
of missing persons is resolving into
vbastly certainty. The finding of the body
of Harry D. Bonnetheau, one of the most
oonsnicuous and in many respects unique
rersonages in this city has added new
ta.+uye of horror to the situation which
exists here.
A. 1890 o'clock to-day his MANNED
bodv was found floating near the foot of
Market street by Robert Johnson and c.
Michael the latter colored man. His
hands which were burned completely off,
leaving naught but the charred stumps of
wrists. told a story of agony and suffer-
iry which has shocked the entire com.
n,unitv. 1t also confirmed the state'.
rents of several witnesses who persisted
IN their story of his probable death
Mr. Bonnetheau was an occupant of
frame cottage in the Basnett block, with
in hundred yeards of where his body
was discovered. Although he had a wife
and son they were living in a Northern
state and he had fitted up for himself in
this quaint structure, bachelor abode
which contained probably the most rare
and costly collection of bric-a-brac in
the country.
His Fine Art Collection.
A connoisseur in works of art ne had
surrounded himself with rich tapestries,
paintings from the palettes of the most
famous artists. costly statuary and rugs
gathered from every quarter of the
globe. A rare gem of the collection was
chair rich in solid gold frame and in
laid with pearl which was valued at ST.
t0O
But while he valued these things high
ly it was something far more precious
to him, though of less intrinsic value
than tempted him to risk his life in
snatchng it from the burning building.
a picture of his dead mother hung on
the wall and, telling a companion that
he would secure it or die in the attempt,
he rushed toward the house. Those who
saw him had no time to linger, and it
vas reported that he had perished in the
ruins
At this time the county court house
vas blazing furiously behind his home
The United States Hotel was on fire to
the left, the Meyer and Muller block to
the eastward was also on fire and the
Mohawk building had caught.
Through "A Fire Bound Lane.
There was but one way of escape and
that was through a frebound narrow
lane to the river. Down this lane he
sped. holding perhaps, that loved image
Of his dead mother. Even as he sped
along the path the flames must have been
licking up the planks of the wharf over
the head of which he plunged Here the
water was probably two fathoms deco
and in desperate hope of success he clung
10 Diling until the cruel flames burned
lis hands to a crisp. Thus died Harry
Bonnetheau. a man loved by his friends
VINO were legion, and whose many kindly
traits will long be remembered by those
VINO knew him best
Mr Bonnetheau was prominent mem
Der OF the Elks and the members of that
examination have persistently searched
1or him since his disappearance. Indeed
within fifteen minutes of the time of his
discovery his brother Elks bore the body
10 the undertaking rooms of Clark and
Burns and had it embalmed. The funeral
arrangements were completed to-day and
ne Will be buried Wednesday at o'clock,
rom ST. Andrews Episcopal Church. His
"lIe VIII arrive in time for the funeral
Was a Prominent Business Man.
Mr.. Bonnetheau was the manager of the
Ilor1da Land Mortgage Company, a for
esh corporation, and was also the agent
VI the basnett estate, and was connected
~ ~ some capacity with the Reed estate
ms oIother-in-law, Mr.. A. e. Hudnall, CT
n'lanta' is here and is looking out for
me funeral arrangements in connection
Win the Elks Lodge.
Inc river is slowly giving up it's dead
% anu u Is now quite certain that there
VIII be additional bodies found. An un-
Auo"h colored man was found in the river
",l7y and buried without identification.
s1lIs. Solon Robinson, widow of the late
eoIon robinson of the New York Tribune,
@ also missing, and was last seen in her
aeslaehce on Hogan strete, while it was
'et enveloped in flames.
Waddy Thompson's widow.
AIRS. Waddy Thompson, an aged in
Iale Of the Old Ladies' Home, was also
N'nd burned to death near the gas
TTloIH'' She was the widow of Waddy
,iUompson, former United States minister
I" MEXICO and lived at one time in Mad
a. .. White. employe of the Clyde
r'.e' discovered the body of white man
a' 'ne A. V. and w. wharf late this even
Ihe body was badly mutilated by
aoS' 1t was identified as William
'Ik' foreman of G.. Muller, by a broth
~, ~ me deceased, and placed in charge
a. Clark. The deceased saved sew
d. sl lives at the fire, but was himself
,, w. Hare began this morning paying
aHee claims. Several hundred thou
"a aims were paid Donations receiv-
,or r,o-day include Tampa $500 more TO
William p. Clyde, $780, Calves
"h N25 additional.
No SiRhtseers wanted.
n"Ay"r Bowden to-day issued a request
an sightseers remain away from
o, N,SohNlie. 1t is feared the vast army
ana 'e negroes may cause some trouble.
M. It Is believed that all those who viii
viii 30 10 work at 81 per day and rations
WI be deported.
81, a. McGottery who was enpioved at