The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1908-10-08
Old Attorney Burned to Death at His Home Sunday Nor
ninR-Fire Probably Started From His Pipe While
- He Was Asleep-Life Of Interesting Citizen s#S

0SSOAAOy 81 "a N1W,IF was OuA ASN -
death In a fire at his home at the
corner of Reishus and Sixth streets
Sunday morning at one o'clock.
Since the death Of his wife nearly
two years ago, the Colonel has been
living alone, and 1t has been stated
that he would meet death just in
the way THAT he did. No one. seems
TO- know exactly how the fire was
started, but at one o'clock it was dis
covered by Miss Ida Cooper. The
flames were seen thru the window
Of the Colonel's home and Miss
Cooper notified ]. M. Mcconnell who
was the first to reach the burning
house. He tried to open the door
which was locked, then he threw his
weight against 1t and burst the
door in. The flames, as soon as the
door was open burst out and burn.
ed Mcconnell quite badly, about the
face and hands. yet with an unus-
ual amount OF bravery, he forced his
way thru the smoke into the room
and located the body Of the Colonel.
His feet were within two feet Of the
door and Mr.. Mcconnell got hold Of
one Of his feet and tried In vain
with all OF his power to pull the
body out. The colonel must have
been dead at the time however. He
/ was lying on the floor, with his
hands interlocked in the death grip,
one arm around the leg of his bed
and the other in the way Of the
stove, so that in order to pull the
body out, the bed and the stove
would had to have been pulled over.
Y The firemen responded to the
alarm quickly, but the water being
low in the tank it was several min
utes before any water could pc
played on the flames. Hand chem
icals were used and the flames were
put out before the house was en-
tirely consumed. When the fire had
been extinguished, and the coroner
summoned, It was found that the
body Of the Colonel had been burn
ed to a charred mass, the features
being unacceptable. I. Both legs
were burned entirely OF as well as
one of his arms.
Colonel Marcy was fist u years
OF age the day that he !, met his
tragic death and had been in bet
ter spirits during the day than US
ual. It is presumed that he had
been reading that night, and lay
down on his couch. presumably with
his pipe in his mouth, that being
his inseparabae companion. Likely
he fell asleep, the pipe fell out q
his mouth onto the door and the
flames slowly burned at drst. ana
then awakening the Colonel started
for. the door only to fisd 1t locked.
He no doubt sunocated shortly and
must have been dead when the nre
was hrst seen.
Two months ago, fire was start
ed 1t his home from the over
turning Of lamp, but the Colone1
put It out before much damage had
been done.
The funeral was held from the
Dpiscopal church Of this city Mon
day, the Colonel being = menber o.
that church. Rev. N. 3. Ellsworth,
Who VA great friend of -. Mar.
q. preached the sermon. Tue at'
torneys Of this city attended tass
for the aged attorney. The remains
were inferred IN Rose Hill GENE
terry.
i vas only a short time go thas
the Colonel went TO his PASTOR ~
informed him that he WAS s1oNaas
"a doubt the resurrection q W
body. snd he wondered il ne Woulo
evar meet the late Mrs. MARCY ~
the hereafter ana II he did, would =
he Ale to know her. Hs 49,
Rev. NJ. Ellsworth Il he woole
,,,re,ach ! sermon on the Resaneo'
t,on 81 the Body and upon the ~
urrec,ion Of the Soul. Tue 'euss.s
before NJ. Marcy died, according =
&, v,shes, Nj. Ellsworth preecnso
{ strong sermon on the Rssurrecuo1
:. -. Dody and On ne very ay
that tAs Colonel passsd 49,, n
s. ~, preaching on the Resurres
lion 81 the Soul. but ths 49, 49, 9. "a
$50 49, .o.l had takss It. aisht aaa
!. - ,et prsseat e ssef y,
prsaeAsr's - -