The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1901-10-04
THREE DIE FLAMES.,

Early this morning there became
upon the streets of this city, rumors
Of the most horrible holocaust that
ever visited Pipestone county-the
burning to death of three men in :
barn near Trosky. E
The barn detroyed was ON tho Old
Will Denhart place on Sec. IA, FL
NOR township, now occ upied by
Han Stotenberg. A threshing crew
in charge of Mart Thorp, Of Vinton,
Iowa, came to the place yesterday,
and at night nine men were quarter
ed in the hay loft of the barn. About
1873 O a. M, one of the men awOke
and discovered that the lower part
of the barn was in flames. He at
once gave the cry Of Fire" and
dashed for a means Of exit. Fumb-
ling about he came to hole by
which feed was let down to the
horse troughs, and, falling through
this hole, he reached the ground
and escaped from the burning build
ing. Several of his companions
followed him, hail climbing, half
tumbling, and reaching the outside
with slight injuries The family
were at once notified, and the work
of rescuing the horses began. All
the stock but a colt and calf were
got out in safety.
AS soon as possible Mr.. Thorp got
his men together and they discover
ed to their horror that three were
missing. An investigation showed
that the unfortunate trio were Claud
Main, Fred Roulette and Ebert
Everts, the latter 10 year old son
of w. Everts, a WE'LL known Elmer
township farmer, who has resided in
this country for eighteen years. The
building was all wrapped in flames
this time and rescue was out OF the
question. Nothing could be done
but to allow the fire fiend to com
plete it's deadly work. When the
flames had died out the ruins were at
once overhauled and near the north
end of the structure we're found the
remains Of the three unfortunate,
charred and mangled.
The bodies we're removed to cat
tie barn near by, where the inquest
was held. Everts' head was entirely
burned off, as also were his fore
arms and legs below the knees.
Main and Houeltte had lost their
feet and hands and from every OK
posed portion of their bodies the
flesh had been completely burned
away. They we're only identified by
slight shreds of clothing which re-
upon them. After the in
quest upon young Evert's body was
at once turned over to his father.
and the relatives of Main and Hon.
lette,a Vinton, Ia, were telegraph
ed to. They responded, saying that
they would come as soon as possible.
The cause of the fire is an absolute
mystery, as there had been no fir
in the barn save a single lanern, anil
this, by the testimony of all who
escaped, was extinguished befpr''
they went to sleep. 1t was also
unanimously testified to, that there
had been no smoking in the building.
The coroner's jury decided that the
three, victims came to their death
in a purely accidental manner, ind
that blame can be attached to no
one.
The barn was valued at $4,000
and was insured for $3.50. Several
sets of harness and grain valued at
81 900, were also destroyed.
The horrible occurance has cast
deep gloom over the neighborhood
for miles around, especially from
the fact that one of the victims was
SO well known Throughout the vicin-
ity affected.-Pipestone Star