Los Angeles herald., 1908-02-21
OLD SOLDIER
LOSES LIFE
LAMP EXPLOSION CAUSES FATAL
FIRE
cHARRED BODY is FOUND IN THE
RUINS
Crippled and Unable to Help Himself
Veteran Is Slowly Roasted to
Death in Blaze Which De-
stroys, His Home


Special to The Herald.
SANTA MONICA, Feb. 20.-Crippled
with rheumatism and partially stupe-
fled with morphine, which drug he had
taken to alleviate his pain, William B.
Madge, an old soldier living alone in a
cottage at 1918 South Eighth street,
was unable to save himself and was
burned to death in a fire which de-
stroyed his home at a late hour last
night. The cause of the confilagration
Is not certainly known, but 1t is
thought that Madge in some manner
overturned a lamp, which stood on a
table near his chair. The house at 1916
adjoining that of the Madge home also
was destroyed in the flames. This
property was owned by Mr.. Pappe
and was unoccupied at the time.
Madge, who was 68 years of age, left
the Soldiers Home several months ago
on a furlough, which would have ex-
pired Saturday. He had been occupy
ing the cottage on Eighth street, which
was part of an estate left by his mother
upon her death about eighteen months
ago. H. B. Houghton, who lives in the
house adjoining that of Madge on one
side, Is administrator of the Madge es-
tate and was the guardian of the vet
eran soldier.
1t had been the custom of Mr.. Hough-
ton to look after the welfare of his
ward, and last evening as usual he
went in for a short visit and to arrange
things for the night.
Helpless from Rheumatism
Practically helpless from rheuma-
tism, Madge had been taking a small
dose of morphine each night in order to
alleviate his pain and to induce sleep.
He also had been unable for several
weeks to rest in bed, and instead slept
in an invalid's chair, which he had
pulled up near to one of the windows.
Last night after arranging for
Madge's comfort and giving his accus-
toned dose of morphine, Houghton low
cred the lamp, which stood on the table
near by, and about 10 o'clock left for
his home.
Just a few minutes before midnight
Houghton was aroused by the cry of
fire, and running into the yard sought
to gain entrance into the Madge home,
which then was enveloped in flames.
Access to the burning building was
impossible, and Houghton and other
neighbors who had gathered to the
scene, looking through the window saw
that aid was useless, as Madge at that
time was dead, with the seething flames
already consuming his body.
The fire department was called, but
owing to the fact that the nearest wa
ter plug was four blocks away, and the
chemical engine not sufficiently
charged, the firemen were unable to
cope with the blaze, which commune
Gated with the Pappe home and de-
stroyed 1t also.
Little was known of Madge's personal
affairs. He was a native of Cassano-
via, N. Y, and formerly was a teacher
there. 1t is said that at one time he
was prominent as an instructor and
also as a historian. He was related to
the Roosevelt family by marriage, a
cousin, Mrs. Alice Roosevelt of Cassa-
novia, N. Y, having been married to
cousin of President Roosevelt.
About six years ago Madge and his
mother came to Santa Monica from
weston, Oregon. Eighteen months ago
Mrs. Madge died, leaving a small es-
tate, of which Mr.. Houghton was given
charge.
This morning the charred remains OF
the veteran soldier were found in the
ruins of his home. They were removed
to the undertaking parlors of o. A.
Kirkelie, where an inquest will be held
tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock.