The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1907-11-27
A DREADFUL HOLOCAUST.
Five Children Cremated In a Burned
Dwelling at Pleasantyille.

A Plessantville dispatch under date o
Nov. 81, gives the following graphic &C
count of the swfu affair which occurred
near that place early Thursday morning
in which five small children OF Thoma.
Zuver's family we're burned to death
Mr.. Zuver is brother of l.. l.. Zuver
the well known photographer of thi;
place, and resided near the old Iuvel
homestead, on the Tionests road, about 9
mile from Pleasantville:
One ofthe most theartrending fatalities Of
the oil country occurred here to-day when
five children of Thomas w. Zuver were
cremated and two Others badly burned in
a fire that destroyed the Zuver home and
contents.
Mrs. Zuver, who, with her husband
and S-months old baby, slept downstairs,
awoke about 8 a. m. and, on account OF
the oppressive heat, turned down the gas
in the kitchen range.
Her husband was awakened by a
cracking noise. He arose to investigate
and upon opening the kitchen door was
driven back by rush OF flame and
smoke. The fire spread so rapidly that
he, together with his wife and baby, was
forced to flee in his night clothes.
Wilbur Zuver, the Oldest boy, who,
with the other children, slept upstairs,
was aroused about the same time and,
smelling the smoke, made for the room
occupied by his smaller brothers.
AS he reached their door, flames burst
out over the partition. He dashed
through the flame and smoke and drag
ged the two unconscious boys from the
bed to the window, where, overcome by
the heat, he was forced to abandon them,
and lesped through the window to the
porch, which collapsed with him, throw
ing him to the grouud. His hair was
purned off and his face, hands and body
were badly blistered and cut. He is in a
serious condition and it is feared that he
inhaled the flames while trying to rescue
his brothers.
His brother Nelson, aged IL, jumped
through 9 window and suffered severe
cuts and burns.
The three little girls, who slept in an
adjoining room, were probably suffocsted
before the flames reached them, as nc
sounds were heard from them. The five
children were burned beyond recogni.
tion, nothing but their badly charred
trunks being recovered from the ruins
The names of the dead are: Emery, aged
II years, Roland, II years, Martha May
0 years, Lottie Jane, Z years, and Nellie
Ruth, years.
The grief of the parents was pitiable
and the two brothers, Wilbur and Nell
son, who, despite their injuries, labored
in their night clothes until further eff
forts to save their brothers and sisters
were useless, are hearlbroken.
The house and contents were totally
destroyed and the five survivors are be-
ing housed by the father of Mr.. Zuver
who is SO years of age and does not seen
to realize the enormity of the blow which
has visited his defendants.
Business In town is practically sus
pended and the entire community
shocked by the terrible calamity, is aid
ing and assisting the beresved and dis
tracted parents, not only with their sym
pathy, but with more substantial gifts o
clothing and necessities,
The cause of the fire is not exactly
known, but it is presumed that the over
heated gas range set fire to the kitchen
floor, which was in all probability smold
ering when Mrs. Zuver turned down tn,
gas.
The three oldest boys, Lee, Vern ant
George Zuver, we're not at home. LIE,
and Vern, who are employed here, wert
soon on the scene of the fatality, anC
George, who is in Pittsburg,. was notified
by telegraph.
To add further to the grief of Mrs. Zu
yer, telegram was received from Var
Buren, Ind, at Ia. M, announcing the
death of Mrs. Martha Ives, her mother
and stating that her remains were being
shipped to Pleasantville for burial.
Although the Zuver family is by NJ
means destitute, Mr.. Zuver being an oi
producer on small scale and employed
as a pumper, residents of the town RAISED
apurse of $500 and presented it to th,
afflicted people and will later hold sup
per for their benefit.
The funeral of Mrs. Ives and the fiv,
children was held on Saturday, the ser
vices taking place at 2:3O p. M, in the M
Il. church, and being conducted by Revs
G. E. Weaver of the F. NJ. church, f.. w
Springer of the NJ E. church, A. Meekel
of the U. B. church, Mr.. Bouchet of th,
Presbyterian church, and W. H. 81. Mon
roe of the Tionesta F. NJ. church. II wa
the largest funeral held in the town il
many years. The bodies of the children
were placed in white velvet cased cas-
ket and the body of the grandmother LAY
in state in black velvet covered casket
both strewn with beautiful flowers, Th,
interment was in Fairview cemetery.
STATE OF OHIO CITY, OF TOLEDO, %,
LUCUs COUNTY, SS'