Evening star., 1903-08-03
FATAL FIRE AT GARRETT PARK.
Young Child Burned to Death-Two
| Dwellings Destroyed
'ecial Correspondence Of The Evening Star

9E'clai correspondence OF The Evening Star.
kENSINGTON. Nd. August 8. 1903
Florence Bissett. the two-year-old daugh-
ter OF Mr. and Mrs. David Bissett was
burned to death at her home in Garrett
Park about mile from this place yes
terday. The fire which caused her ,leath
occurred at about 1890 pm and resulted
in the total destruction of their home. as
we'll as that OF Mr.. B. c. Tiffany, which
adJoins their property. 1t was said TO
have started In Mr.. Bissetts summer
kitchen from an OIL stove, which was be-
Ing used TO prepare the Sunday dinner.
The kitchen. which was Of light frame
structure, was envelopei in flames. and an
alarm OF fire was at once given by Mr..
Bissetts sister-in-law, who was In the
kitchen at the time
Mrs. BtSSett, who was In bed upstairs
took up her infant child. and her nincs
with four other children made their way
out Of the house. which WAS rapidly NIL
ing with dense volumes Of smoke Flames
also had broken through the rear end OF
the house from the kitchen. The family
upon reaching the lawn discovered that
little Florence was missing. The father
and Mr.. Hart MOmSen. a neighbor. da shed
into the house and assembled and raascend-
ed the stairs to the floor on which tho
child WAS last Seen only TO be driven back
each time by the flames and dense smoke.
BY this time the entire house was In
blaze. and the attention of the citizens
was directed to the property adjoining.
The wind also had changed from the east
to south and the most thickly settled part
Of the town was threatened. Willing
hands assisted Mr. Tiffany in removing
much 0f his furniture and personal ef-
fects. and upon the arrival Of the Ken
sing'on fire fighters, OF which all of the
citizens are members, headed by Chief
LOUIS MaXson. the work OF checking the
flames was commenced The chemical
tanks bl hit by them Were used on Mr..
Iifauy'S but II found
that that structure was too far gone to be
saved. and the fact that the roofs IT
neghbol ing houses were smoking directed
the attention of all toward checking the
further spread of the flames. Fences and
small outbuldingS We're cut down and wet
blankets were applied to the roofs ana
caves of the homes of Mr.. Momseu and
Mayor J. &. Stoddard These efforts were
successful and the flames were soon con-
fined to the two houses, which shortly col
lapsed One OF the unfortunate features
of the fire lighting the fact that a
large tank of water on the Bissett place
was located directly over the kitchen.
where the fire started and was not acceS-
s.ble from the start: had 1t been possible
to get at ii the fire could have been
checked in the kitchen and both houses
saved.
moved to the former home OF DR. Bohrer
and a physician was at once summoned.
as her infant which Is only a week old, Is
said to be too Ill to recover. Later In tho
evening Mrs Bissett removed to the
home Of her brother In Cleveland Park.
D. G.
The residence occupied prior to the firs
by Mr. BSSett and his family was the for
mer home of Mr.. Z. II. Dorsett and was
surrounded by number Of large modernly
equipped greenhouses. two of which were
destroyed: 1t is further stated that only
a nominal insurance OF $3.50 was carried
on the premises Mr.. Tiffany, however. IS
said to be fully covered by insurance, The
loss of property is estimated to be between
$lO.OO0 and $4,000.
Mr.. Tiffany has moved his family into tho
former home of Mr.. T. Coburn.
Mr.. Walter A. Johnston Of this place was
one of the successful candidates for nomi-
nation on the democratic ticket for re-
election to the state legislature at Satur-
days primaries.
Mr.. and Mrs. Albert S. Galley and family.
Miss Clair Mannakee and Miss Lillian
Howard have gone to Arundel-on-th the-B Bay.
where Mr.. Galley has engaged a cottage
for the season.
Mr.. Charles f. Rice has just returned to
his home on Knowles avenue after a trip
Mr. and Mrs benjamin F. Snyder have
returned from visit to Atlantic City. N. }.
Mrs. A. II. Kinnear Is chaperoning a
party at Colonial Beach.
Miss Grace Little Is spending few weeks
at Philadelphia. Pa, and Atlantic City. N.
J., with friends.
Merrill, have gone on a vacation for several
weeks They will visit Niagara Falls. Buff
falo and Chicago before returning.
Mrs Teagler and her daughter. Miss
Edna Teagler. are spending a vacation at
Harper's Ferry, w. Va. :.
Dr. Barr. the pastor OF Christ Episcopal
Church Mission, is away on his vacation.
The usual Sunday afternoon services have
been discontinued. Services. however. are
being held each Sunday at IL a m. and are
in charge Of Mr.. Taggart. the lay reader.
Mr.. and Mrs. Clarence ]. White. who
have been ting Mr.. Whites sister Mrs.
Walter A. j, nston. have returned to their
home at AmericuS, Ga.