The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1908-12-16

+. +. FOWLER.
One of the steamers of Protection En-
gine Co. No. 3, was run out on Monday
morning last at about quarter pat
eleven O'Clock in response to an alarm
locating a fire in the Fowler barn in the
rear of the family residence on North
Main street. The building was small
one, and as there was no hay in the loft,
and nothing of much value stored on the
first floor, but little anxiety was mani
tested by the crowd which assembled as
to the loss which might ensue.
Soon, however, it was rumored that
Ex-County Treasurer Edward f. Fowler,
might be in the burning building, and
shortly afterward, when the boarding
of the south side of the structure fell
away, the On-loOkers were Mortified bv
the spectacle of charred body living
face downward on the floor of the Sec
ond story, the whitened skull with its
sightless eyes, beyond which could be
traced the outlines of partially inciner-
ated form, in full view.
The efforts of the firemen were then
directed toward saving the body from
complete destruction, and when the
flames were sufficiently subdued, hu-
name onlooker succeeded in covering
the ghastly remains with sheet. Later
they were removed to theyard adjoining,
where they were viewed by Coroner DR..
ii. b. Searles, who made thorough but
informal investigation, and pronouncing
the death manifestly due to accidental
suffocation, decided an inquestto to be un-
necessary.
This official pronouncement will be
generally accepted as the true theory of
the cause of Mr.. Fowler's untimely death.
AS is natural in cases of this kind, there
have been many stories circulated, with
such basis of fact and surmise as would
lead the average person to a conclusion
differing from the decision of the Coro-
ner. But full knowledge of Mr.. Fow-
ler's movements on the fatal morning,
fully justifies the belief that his death
was purely accidental. From his home
on North Main street he came down
town, meeting Hon. f. B. Hardenbergh,
"A. A. Grambs and others on the wav,
and conversng with them in his usual
pleasant manner. He stopped at drug
store, called on professional Court st.
friend, visited the county officers, dropped
i'll at the Allen House, paid Heumann' s
a flying visit, and returned to his home
about II O'Clock, apparently in the best
of spirits. To Mr.. Keen, employed in
painting building near his home he
said that he was in tirst-class health and
generally call right" Though usually
companionable and sociable, sometimes
to Il fault, he had been total abstainer
for weeks, and careful inquiry fails to
show that he had transgressed to the
/ slightest extent on Monday.
/ About II o'clock drayman in the en-
ploy Of the Fowler Milling firm, took Il
/ load of coal to the home of W. A. Gay
lord, father-in-law of f.. +. Fowler 5
brother. He went to the little barn back
Of the Fowler homestead, for Il schute.
Edward was standing in the yard but
did not accompany him to the barn. Be
/ fore the coal was unloaded the alarm OF
/ fire was given, and, owing to its rapid
progress, when the cartman, Mr.. Keen
and others tried toenter the barn through
the half open door, they were driven
back by the fierce flames which had al
ready enveloped the loft, and were burst
ing from every crack and joint.
In this flood of fire Mr.. Fowler per-
ished. How it started and precisely how
he became its victim must forever re-
main a mystery. In the very prime OF
life, thirty-seven years of age, and hav-
ing just served his county as treasurer
with flawless record, it is to be pre-
sumed that the future held out to him
many inducements for future effort. The
very fact that he was successful can.
didate for one of the most important of.
fees in the gift of our people, at an almost
unprecedentedly youthful age, affords
convincing evidence of his popularity
Thus honored and thus kindly regarded
by his fellow townsmen, his untimely
death must be accepted rs a peculiarly
sad dispensation, and will be felt by
many as personal bereavement.