Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-09-04
IN Burning Home at Lit
deton Common, Mass.
Two Women, Aged 80 and so,
And a I2-year-o|d Girl
nsfule Attempts to Sane Them from Awful
Death 10 the Flames.

Littleton, Mass, Sept. 3.-Tw0 womer
and little girl were burned to death
Saturday night. in e. fire that destroyed
q tw o-story wooden house at Littletoi
Common. Four other occupants of the
house escaped. although one Of them
the half sister Of the little girl who was
burned. had her arm broken by jump
ing from a window. The dead are:
Mrs. Nancy Minds. so years. of Bos-
ton
Miss Minds, IL years, daughter Oh
Rev. Nr. Minds, a missionary at Ma
deira.
Mrs. Eunice Knox. so years. widow
employed In q local factory.
Those who escaped were Mrs. Jane
MuIard, who conducted the lodging
house.
Miss 0rethen Willard. her daughter.
Miss Mary Minds. sitter or the dead
girl.
George Howard, Is years. employed
In a local grocery store.
Mrs. Willard made every effort to
arouse the occupants of the house and
succeeded In awakening her daughter, the
elder Minds girl and Howard. but she
could not get into the rooms in which old
Mrs. Minds and her granddaughter were
sleeping, nor into Mrs knox's ROOM Mrs.
Willard, who is very lame and uses
crutches, had great difficulty In SAYING
her own life. although she remained In
the burning building until she was nearly
overcome by smoke
The fire broke out In a shed about II
o'clock and was first discovered by Mrs
was nearly full of smoke. She hobbed
10 the window and shouted for help. She
was heard by Row. Frank B. Enslin. the
pastor of the First Baptist church. witt
In the meantime Mrs. Willard Rad sue,
ceeded in awakening her daughter ano
the elder Minds girl. The former was
able to reach the stairs but the Ninds
Jumped to the ground. breaking her arm
Howard was also aroused and rushed
out Of the house. while Mrs; Willard en-
deavored to reach Mrs. Minds room. Al
es she managed to get to the door. and al,
though she pounded vigorously she coulo
not get an answer. while the door was
locked.
and the flames were coming UP the bach
stairs so rapidly that Mrs. Millard dit
not dare TO stay longer. so she reluctant
ly left the women to their fate AS sh'
appeared and endeavored to go up pas
her TO tho rooms above. but the flame
had obtained too strong a Roadway ant
they drove him back.
One more effort was made to reach on
OF tho rooms by means OF ladder. bu
by the time the ladder was procured tn
flames were bursting from the windows
Mrs. Knox occupied another room Which
Mrs Willard could not reach.
The little village was soon In stat
Of treat excitement and bucket brigade
was formed. 1t was found, however. tina
the Mfllard house was doomed and ar
effort was made to stop the fire. from eX
tending to the adjoining house. occupied
by Warren Fletcher. who also owned tbs
house occupied by Mrs. Willard. TIL.
volunteer fire department was partially
successful. although the Fletcher hous,
was somewhat damaged.
The house which was DESTROYED has
been occupied by Mrs. Willard for mum
Der of years. She has had several board
ers and among them Miss Mary Minds
who has been staying here while hel
father WAS In Madeira. Yesterday the
elder Mrs. Minds. with her granddaugh
ter. arrived from Boston for a visit. Rev
Mr.. Minds being expected there in few
days as he arrived from Madeira da,
or two ago.
Mrs. Knox. who has been employed a
the suspender factory for some time. ha'
boarded with Mrs. Willard. as well a!
Howard. the grocery clerk
The house. which was built of wood
was burned to the ground within an hou
after the FIRE started.
The loes on both houses Is estimated a
Ym