The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-11-23
A P|CKAN|NNY FIRE
Two Little Blacks Start
a Blazing House.
After Starting the Fire They Creep
to Bed and are Pulled Out Barren
Of c othes by Negro Women and
Saved From ROASTING.

Where the comic and the serious
the telling of events, but there was Il
fire here yesterday afternoon about
4:30 that had tears and laughter in
it. as well as the ring of fire alarms
and the rush of steeds with fire
wagons.
1t was on East Caoarrus street, near
to South Person that the scene was
laid, and aside from the fire girdled
building. one-Story two-rOom cabin,
the interest centers about two pickan-
innies, two little negro chaps, four or
five years of age, one of whom started
the IRE, both of whom came near be-
ing roasted to u turn. They were in
the burning cabin and were only
yanked out in time to save their lives,
being hauled into public gaze minus
clothing, in bare skins as on their first
debut.
The house over half destroyed is
the property of Mr.. W. n. Jones and
sets back in a settlement square off
of East CabarruS street, and when
discovered in flames by some negro
women in nearby cabins was on the
quick road to destruction. Louise
Brice, Mollie Jones and Della Parker
We're the renters, Louise and Mollie
having each a four or five year old
/ boy in the house these having been
I left '.at home by the women who
are workers ut Il restaurant on Will
mington street. A rescung negress
dashed into the burning building and
despite the yells and the howls of the
| handfuls of humanity. pulled them out
/ of bed and skurred back to the open
with them. kicking legs and waving
arms being the sight
| John and Scott are the names Of
the boys and being vigorously ques-
toned each blamed the fire on the
other.
lawn he done it, said Scott, While
/ Scott insisted it was "JaWn. till
'.Jawn" gave - denying.
And then Scott told it thusly: I'VE
wuz cole Ell We got IN de bed wifi our
close often us. Jawn he sed les have
/ a far en- we got up en- got maches.
JaWn he up en- lit q mach on dc wall
en- set fer ter de paper en- ii flew up
ter de wall, an den we went ter bed es
! it wuZ getten wommer EN- they tuck
us OUT in dc cole Widout emmy close
on us.
That's the story. Two little cold
negroes In bed wanted to warm up.
They get out and find matches. strike
one, paper about the fire place catchee
OH fire. up to the ceiling it goes and
| the fire bell rings The quick work
of the fire department keeps two
thirds of the building from being de-
stroyed. The little furniture in on
room is all gone. that in the other
is Il wreck from flames and water
| Say $50 10 So for the house, S25 for
| the furniture and that's the damage
Huh, said the mother Of one al
I the boys as she surveyed the wreck
LTD ruther that little rascal had burnt
than my things.
'''fhat Jawn. said the old negro
woman by whose hospitable fire the
pickaninnies, now half clothed and
| gazing wonderingly at curious faces
We're smuggling up close. THAT JawIl
! is q bad boy. He tried to set fire to
1.-THE house Yesterday
And 'Jawn" just turned sideways
TO the fire and gazed reproachfully al
Scott who edged up closer to the
edge of the blaze in the fire place.