Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-12
LITTLE ONES BURNED.
CHILDREN LOSE THEIR LIVES IN
HILLsDALE FIRE.
Coroner Orders Arrest Of Party Re-
sponsible for Leaving Them
Alone-Pitiable Case.

Mount Zion Hill, Hillsda1e, was the scene
of fatal fire about IL O'Clock this morn
ing. Two small colored children, Edward
and Olive Tompkins, four and two years
old. respectively, were the victims. They
lived with their grandmother. Mrs Ann
Prue and had been left alone In the house
earlier in the morning. When the police
learned that the little ones had been burned
to death they notified the coroner. and the
latter order the arrest Of the person re-
sponsible for leaving the children alone IN
the house.
The father of the children is a iaborer
and works at st. Eizabeth's Hospital Tor
the Insane. According to the statements
Of the police he did not live in the house
where the fatal fire occurred this morning.
His wife died nearly two years ago and
the children have been living with their
grandmother. Mrs. Prue Is highly re-
spected colored woman about sixty years Of
age and the police say she is hard worker
In her efforts to provide for the two chill
dren and herself she worked In gardens and
houses about HiIlsdale and also for resi-
dents Of Washington. 1t Is stated that her
employers usually gave her food enough for
the children.
In order to provide for them it was nee
essary to leave the children in the house
alone This was done this morning as
usual 1t is stated. and the fire occurred dur
ing her absence. How the fire started no
000y Will ever KNOW, LOT Wueu
discovered the flames they had gained so
much Roadway that the children could not
possibly be rescued.
Children Groan and Cry.
Those who visited the scene shortly after
the fire was discovered heard the groans
and cries of the children. but the heat was
so intense that the room where the children
were could not be entered and the little
ones were powerless to help themselves The
Anacostia fire company reached the scene
of the fire after the damage had been done:
There was no water about Mount Zion Hill
that they could use. and there was nothing
they could do except to see that other prop
erty was protected When the last timber
Of the One-story frame structure had raHen
the spectators saw the skulls and few
bones, all that was left Of the victims, IN
the pile of hot Goals, but they were not
troubled until the arrival of Coroner hewitt
Then they were placed In the DEAD wagon
ing an investigation of the case and the
holding of an inquest.
About two years ago the home Of Mrs
Prue was destroyed by fire, and the struc-
ture which was destroyed today was con-
structed with money contributed by fr1enos
of the children's grandmother. Mrs. Prue
is widow. Her husband was soldler'
and she has a claim for a pension pending.
Policeman Green of the Anacestta station
visited the scene of the fatal fire and re-
ported the facts to headquarters Durlng
his investigation OF the case ne ascSI r.ilise
that Rosa Prue, a cousin of the children
was left at the house this morning to take
care of them. She was found and placed
under arrest
She stated to the police that she went OUT
of the house to get the children some-
thing to eat, and it was while she was
absent on this errand that the house was
destroyed and the children burned to death
She said that there was no lock on the
back door and the little boy could have
opened 1t if he had tried. She was sent to
the house of detention. The coroner VIII
hold an inquest tomorrow.