West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-12-10
BURNED TO DEATH.
Widow Lydia RcckArd Loses Her Life
With the Destruction OF Her Home.

IN ntc tnat destroyed her home at ala
Ess, Main street, Mrs. Lydia Reekard, q
widow, was burned to death abou, eleven
O'Clock Monday night. She had bu, recently
moved here from renuelton, w. Va. aud
for about six weeks had lived with he,
brother. ]. w. Thomas, on whi,eman
avenue. waiting for the house on East Main
street to be vacated. She had only lived In
her new home abou, week up to the time
OF the fire. and had just got comfortably
settled In her new home
The FIRE was discovered shortly after n
O'Clock by Mrs, Cornelius Gardner at her
home a, 400 Eas, Main street. She told her
husband that she smeied the smoke Of
burning wood and asked him to investigate
He went TO the back door but saw no evil
dence of FIRE anywhere. Meanwhile Mrs.
Gardner looked out of an upper window aud
saw the blaze. Mr.. Gardner then ras around
to Mss. Reckaro's home and kicked In the
front door. Flames burst out Of the open.
ing and prevented him from going inside
At first the key to the nearest hre alarm box
could not be found and Telephone message
was sent To the Exchange hotel, from where
Il was quickly communicated to the hose
companies. Meanwhile. finding the key TO
the box, an alarm was sent IN from the box
which resulted In the confusion of signals
that followed. many people being under the
impression that there was more than one
fire.
The Chief Williams Hook and Ladder
company was the first to arrive on the scene
but the nearest plug was so far away from
The fire that they had TO await The arrival of
the other cart and splice the hose. Mean.
while the flames gained an enormous head
way, and Il looked as though the entire
block OF residences there, known as Me-
Dowell's Row, would be burned. After
water was turned on the flames they were
not subdued for nearly two hours. The
houses on either side OF Mrs Reckard,s
home were badly damaged and her residence
entirely destroyed.
while the lire was In progress there was a
great deal OF excited speculation among the
neighbors OF that vicinity as to whether Mrs.
Reeksrd had perished in the flames or not.
Some thought that she was not In The house
and Others believed that she had been burn.
cd to death AS sosn as the flames were
partially exlinguished, aud il was possible
to make an examination, George Matthews
took lantern aud made an inspection of
the sieaming mass of RUNS with party OF
iiremen. In the cellar they found bed
overturned among the mass of charred
timbers While cropping around, Matthews
was horriiied to grasp a woman's head by
the hair The debris was hastily ierked
away aud horrible sight was exposed un-
der the dali rays Of the lantern. There was
awoman's body with both lower limbs
burned of and also one arm. The body
was almost burned beyond scmbIance Of a
human form and the flesh was literally cook.
ed with the steam and intense heat The
remains were removed and placed on hose
cart aud then taken TO Shuman's morrue
about O'Clock this morning
They we're identified by her brother. 7.
W. Thomas. this morning. who at once
notified her son and daughter, Jesse Reckard
and Mrs. Matte crosco, at corinth, w. Va.
Mrs. Reckard also leaves half-broiher,
Lneien Sliger Of St. Joe, w. Va.
The cause Of the fire will probably always
remain mystery, bui i, Is thought that IL
was due TO the ignition of some clothing
which Mrs. Reckud had drying before a,
Crate. Some Of her nclghbors had called
on her during the evening and remained
until about 9 O'Clock. They say she had
done a large washing during the day and
had hung itio dry before her crate. nj
thought that some Of the clothing caught
fire after she retired and thus set fire 10 the
dwelling.
Mrs. Rechsrd was So years OF age and
had been a widow since the death OF her
second husband. Her FIRST husband was a
soldier In the Civil War where he was
killed.
The property loss is about $500. that be.
ing the original cost OF the building. al.
though u wonId probably take q. 600 to re.
place II az the present price OF building
material The home Of william Reed az
so East Main street was damaged to the
extent Of about 500. the side and roof be.
Jog destroyed and some windows broken.
The home Of Walter Weir. 4f4 East Main
street was damaged about the same as
Reeds house.
There was hole crushed In the womans
skull when her body was found winch 4
thouehi to have been done by falling
timber when the building collapsed and she
fell from her hrst aOor bed chamber into
the cellar.
The hfc department Is entitled to much
credit for saving the entire row Of houses
IRON destruction. considering the diaonl-
ties under which they Iabofcd.