The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-09-14

By carefully plotting her younger
brothers and sisters through a sea Of
flames, Mary Moritz, age fourteen
years, saved the lives of four children
yesterday morning.
The fire which destroyed the MorltZ
home at North st. Paul brought death
to Annie Moritz and her baby sister
Alice. Michael Moritz, the father Of
the children was seriously burned while
trying to rescue Annie and Alice from
the cruel flames. He was removed to
the city hospital and is fearfully
burned.
Shortly before o'clock yesterday
morning, Annie, age sixteen years,
tried to start a fire in the kitchen
range. Her kindling was wet with
dew and refused to burn. In order to
hurry the fire she saturated the wood
with kerosene oil. Not waiting to place
the oil can away the girl struck
match and lighted the wood. The blaze
from the kerosene leaped high into the
air and ignited the girls clothes.
In moment the fire was commune
Gated to the can filled with oil and an
explosion followed Immediately. The
fortunate girl.
Crying feebly, her agony so great
that she was unable to scream, Annie
rushed into the bedroom occupied by
her father and baby sister. Mr.. Moritz
was awake, and the minute he saw his
daughter, jumped from his bed in a
vain endeavor to eXtinguiSh the fire.
His light attire was ablaze in a mo-
ment and the flames scorched his flesh.
He pushed his daughter before him,
hoping to reach the wet grass in front
of the house. Annie fell when near the
door. Not a cry did the girl utter.
Only a few feeble groans told Of her
agony.
Girl Becomes a Heroine.
Mary, the second Oldest daughter of
Moritz, was awakened by the commo-
ton. She was asleep in the second
occurred. Looking from her bedroom
window she saw her father rolling in
the wet grass, trying to extinguish the
flames, which were slowly roasting
him.
Without a thought of herself the lit
tie girl quickly returned to the bed in
which were sleeping her sisters. Clara
and Emma, one four and the other six
years old. Partly carrying and then
dragging them, she succeeded in get
ting them out of the burning house. AS
soon as they were placed out of dan
ger, little Mary returned to the burn
ing building to arouse her two younger
brothers. She climbed the rickety
stairs to the garnet, and crawling to
the room in which the youngsters were
sleeping awoke them. Their bedcham-
Der was directly over the kitchen,
where the fire was then raging like
furnace.
John, boy of seven years of age, re-
fused to accompany his heroic sister.
He was partly suffocated. The other
boy was led down to the door, and Mary
again returned for her little brother.
He was semi conscious when she re-
turned.
Dragged the Child Out.
Unable to carry him, the little girl
took hold of his arms and dragged him
from the burning structure. Once in
the open air he soon revived.
While Mary was saving the children
from death, Annie and Alice were
roasting in the sea of flames, which
devoured the house, and her father was
unable to render any assistance as a
result of his burns.
Mrs. Moritz, the mother of the chill
dren, had left home two hours before
the fire with load of vegetables. She
was informed of the dreadful tragedy
soon after it occurred while at the st.
Paul public market. The woman was
taken to the city hospital to see her
husband, who is in a dangerous condi-
ton.
The bodies of the two children burn
ed were found soon after the fire was
eXtinguished. Annie was burned be-
yond recognition, but Alice, the baby
girl, evidently died from suffocation.
Coroner A. w. Miller was called, and
after viewing the remains decided that
an inquest was unnecessary.