Waterbury Democrat., 1902-01-04
TWO LIVES LOST.
Minister Peck and Daughter, of
 Bethany.
AN EARLY MORNING FIRE

In the Peck Homestead-Cha Peck of Waterbury Had Narrow Escape From the Burning Building-He Lay Unconscious for Several Hours After
 Being Picked Up.
 Bethany, Conn, Jan 1.-Two lives lost, serious injury to one person and the destruction of a handsome old fam fly homestead is the story of a fire that brought consternation to the in- habitants of this old hill town early this morning.
 The victims were Edmund Peck, a retired Methodist clergyman over 80 l years of age, and his daughter, Mary Peck, aged 3d years. Charles Peck of l Waterbury, q son of the family, was aroused ill time to escape death J fire, but his life was saved only by jump from his sleeping apartment on the second floor. As it was he sus- tained a serious injury to his back and was picked up unconscious. For | otNcIdl uOuIS He WdS III d cOHulllOH Ol delirium. The house was reduced to ashes.
 It was about o'clock this morning when Tyler Davidson neighbor of the Pecks, living just across the high- way, was awakened by the glare of fire. A glance from his window caus-l ed him to make his way half dressed to the burning house of Edmund Peck. | Ja Inn i,,fn tyio fo make his way to the upper floor The fire was well advanced, however, and he could do no more i'll the work of rescue than to shout loudly, "The house is on fire"
 Even at that time, it is believed, Edmund Peck and his daughter had been trapped beyond help. The shouts kof neighbor Davidson, however, aroused Charles Peck, the son. and the latter, partly overcome already by the smoke, could only undertake to save himself by exit through a win dow. He made his way to the va randa roof and jumped. The slippery roof caused him to slip and his leap resulted in more of fall than jump. He struck on his back and was un- conscious when picked up. Meanwhile other neighbors had been aroused and l hurried to the scene. Charles Peck was removed in q team to neigh I bors house, still unconscious, and q physician was sent for. In his delir- ium he called frantically for his fa- ther.
 Nothing could be done by the hclp- less bystanders toward saving the house from total destruction, and the flames were too fierce to render pOS- sible any work of rescue.
 The house was located on the turn pike, possibly a mile and half north- east of the village center. It occupied a commanding position on the Bethany hills and for years has been known as one of thc handsomest old homesteadS in the section.
 At j O COCK the house was in ruins, the fire having occupied less than an hour ill the work of total destruction.
 At o'clock the ruins were still too hot to permit q search for the bodies of Mir Peck and his daughter.
 The loss will probably exceed $5,O0Os Bethany is entirely without fire pro- lection of any kind.
 Edmund Beck was one of Bethany's most prominent citizens. A score of years ago he was active as a clergy man of the Methodist Episcopal church. His last charge was in West Haven. Twenty years ago his ad- yanced age caused hlm to leave the ministry and he withdrew to Bethany. where wlln his family he occupied th4 house i'll which he met his death. M was formerly known as the TheoplX lus Smith homestead, the chiluhoetN home of Mis- Peck Mir Peck engaged in light farm work up to the time of his death For many summers his house has been filled with summer boarders.
 His wife. who is still living, is near ly so years of age. She is visiting ! daughter Mrs Samuel Chapman of Waterbury. Charles Peck. the son, who barely escaped with his life, is tax collector of Bethany. He was married recently and has since made his home ill Waterbury, whence he came yesterday to look after the tax collections.
 At 3 o'clock this afternoon it was reported that the bodies had not been recovered The work of cleaning the ruins was necessarily slow. Charles Peck. the injured son, recovered cOn- sciousness this afternoon. No bones were broken and he could give no explanation of the cause of the fire except on the theory that spark from the fireplace started it. Mrs 1 Peck, wife of Charles. arrived in Beth any this afternoon.
 
 Gets a Twenty Year Sentence. l TN n To 4 r1r.