Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-14
BURNED TO DEATH.
Edwin Tabor Perishes in House
Near North Vassa|boro.
Fire Caught from Unknown Cause
Part Of Remains Found.
Tabor Lived a Hermit's Life-Had No
Near Relatives.

Waterville, Me-, April 13.-(SpeciaD
Those who were out between 9 and
10 o'clock, Friday evening, noticed a
bright light reflected on the sky to the
southeast of the city. All the informa-
ton that could be obtained by tele-
phone was that the fire was about
threc-quarters of a mile below North
Vassalboro and was probably a barn
or set of farm buildings. The telephone
one to the fire, 50 nothing more def
mite than this could be obtained in the
evening. But on Saturday morning, it
was learned that there had been IA
tragedy during the night and that Ed
ward Tabor, aged 81, who lived alone
on his farm, had lost his life in the
fire which was seen from here.
Mr.. Tabor had lived alone since the
death of his mother some % years ago,
on his farm on what is commonly
known as Hussey Hill in Vassalboro.
He was somewhat of "a recluse in
habits, although his character was
nothing like that which is commonly
connected with the hermit. He had a
sunny disposition, a warm, generous
heart and was u pleasant man to meet.
He was very much liked and highly
respected by his neighbors. He was u
well read man and kept track of cur
rent events by means of the newspa-
pers. He simply preferred to live
alone and that was his chief oddly.
He had never married and is survived
by no immediate relatives. His sim
PIE wants We're supplied by his farm
which he owned and the sale of
produce and wood from time to time
kept him in ready money.
The exact circumstances of the fire
will probably never be known, as Mr..
Tabor was alone when it started and
by the time the first person arrived on
the scene the house was beyond all
hope. But from what can be learned
it wouII seem that the fire started
sometime between and o'clock. Mr..
Tabor employed boy to help him with
the chores about the farm, horse,
COW, some sheep and some hens being
kept. The boy, Walter Crawford by
name, did his work as usual, Friday,
getting through about O'Clock and
then leaving for his home. He left the
lantern which he used about the barn
burning in the kitchen as he was ac-
customed to do.
What happened after the boy left is
not known. DR.. Cook was the first to
arrive on the scene after the fire start
ed and was promptly followed by other
When the doctor arrived
the house was wrapped in flames. so
that it was impossible to get near it,
let alone getting inside to search for
the inmate. Nothing could be done
and the roof and walls collapsed soon
after the arrival of the neighbors.
H. b. Smell of this city. was sum-
moned by the town authorities of Vas
salborO and went out, Saturday after
noon. What remained of the body of
Mr.. Tabor was found in the cellar di-
rectly under where the cellar stairs de-
seconded. The stairs leading to the
cellar and those leading from the
kitchen to the upper floor were so ar
ranged that the entrance to the cellar
stairs was directly under the flight
leading to the chamber over the
kitchen where Mr.. Tabor slept.
From the position in which the body
was found in the cellar it would seem
that Mr.. Tabor had been awakened by
the fire and had attempted to get out OF
the house and had been overcome by
smoke and persisted near the stairs. The
head and limbs were almost entirely con-
sumed but q good part of the trunk re-
manned
1t is understood that Mr. Tabor was
subject to opileptic fits and IL Is there
fore thought by some that he might have
suffered an attack during the evening
and have set the fire in some way. The
90 about the house after dark with a
lantern without a globe and if he had
been attacked by q fit while carrying this
unprotected light it would have been
easy to have started a fire. But just
what happened can only be imagined.
Mr. Tabor's sad death has caused sin
cere sorrow in the neighborhood where
he spent so many years He was born
and had always lived on the farm where
he died. Although n hermit by habit he
was not one by nature and was very
much liked and highly respected by all
his neiehbors. About a year ago an at
tempt was made to have n guardian APP
pointed to care for him in his old age,
but he would not listen to II. Neither
would he have anyone live with him. The
boy VINO did the chores was the only as
siStance he had.
Mr.. Tabor was reared as q Quaker and
adhered to the faith adj his life. He was
always an Industrious man and the farm
he owned was considered to be one of the
best in the section. The buildings were
not very valuable as they We're very old
and out Of repair. There was no insur-
ance on them. so they will be a total loss
The remains were taken to East Vas
salboro, Saturday, where the funeral will
be held, today.