Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-26
Isaac Speed Burned to Death
In Home Near
Dudley.
WAS AGED SET TIE R
Other Occupants of House Barely
Escaped With Lives.
HOME COMPLETELY DESTROYED
{.
Fire Supposed to Have Started From
Lamp in Speeds Room-ReIatives
Powerless to Reach Aged Man--Liv.
ed in Iowa Since 1a47.


able to extinguish the flames and so
enfeebled with age and overcome by
the smoke that he could not make his
escape, Isaac Speed, an aged and we'll
known pioneer of this vicinity, was
early this morning burned to death in
fire that completely demolished the
home Of his relative, Ezra Stevens,
with whom he was living, located one
mile south of Dudley.
When the other occupants of the
house We're aroused, the flames, which
started in the room occupied by Mr..
Speed, had gained such headway that
all means of reaching the aged man
were cut off.
PROSTATE where he had evidently
fallen while attempting to find the
exit from the room. the charred and
blackened remains of Mr.. Speed were
this morning found and taken from
the smouldering ruins of the dwelling
Mr.. Stevens and his five children
who We're at home, barely escaped
from the house with their lives. The
loss is estimated at $1,000, on which
there is no insurance.
! Hears Noise.
About 2 o'clock this morning Miss
Flora Stevens, eldest daughter of Ezra
Stevens, was awakened by an unusual
noise in the house. as of something
falling. Rising quickly, she went to
the room occupied by Mr. Speed, and
on opening the door flames, apparently
completely enveloping the room, shot
forth.
Others Aroused.
So unexpected was the sight that
the woman uttered scream that
aroused the other members of the
family, and soon the most strenuous
| efforts We're being put forth to reach
| the ENGAGED man.
When the members of the family
had made their escape, Mr.. Stevens
and his two eldest sons attempted to
reach the room occupied by Mr.. Speed
| from the outside. through door that
had long been nailed shut but their ef.
forts We're only to be made futile By
the rapid spread of the flames.
Saved Little.
/ The home of the Stevens family,
with whom Mr.. Speed has been living,
| for many years, was a one-story frame
structure located on farm about one
mile south of Dudley. At the time of
the fire there were in the house aside
from Mr.. Speed and Mr.. Stevens, five
children of the latter, George Joseph,
Orya, Flora and Maude. So wrought
up were the members of the family
and so eager were they in their efforts
| to rescue the aged man, that practic-
ally nothing in the way of household
| effects was saved from the buildin5.
| Only small amount of clothing that
! happened to be in the part of the
house farthest removed from the start
ing point of the fire, together with
two beds, were saved.
Origin Unknown.
Mr.. Stevens, who was interviewed
this morning by representative Of
the Courier, stated that he does not
and never will know the exact cause
OF the fire, but the supposition is that
| it started from lamp in the room oc-
cupied by Mr.. Speed. The custom was
to leave the lamp lighted there during
| the night, and often the invalid tired
| OF lying in bed, would arise and sup
porting himself upon a chair, which
was always kept at the side of the bed,
walk about the room. 1t is supposed
that he became weak and fell, possibly
knocking the lamp down and causing
the fire which resulted in his death.
The flames spread SO fast that one
story of the farme house burned to the
/ ground in an almost incredibly short
space Of time.
Mr.. Speed has made his home for
some years with Mr. Stevens, rela.
tive, and was regarded as one of the
Stevens family His death is deeply
regretted by all who knew him and
the sympathy of the community is eX-
tended to his surviving relatives.
Leaves Six Children.
Three daughters and three sons sur
vive Mr.. Speed. They are: Mrs. Cath.
crime Parker, of Wayne county; Mrs.
Elizabeth Waddington, wife of John
Waddington. who resides near Chilli
| cothe; Mrs. Abigail Glenn, of Marion
county; Amos and Thomas Speed, who
until recently, lived in Wayne county,
but who have removed to Kansas.
where they have not yet settled on