Milford chronicle., 1909-11-26
DE ARMOND met
DEATH IN FIRE
Congressman PGrIShGd with
Grandson in Burning Home,
DAUGHTER SAVES MOTHER
Democratic Leader Sacrificed His Life
In Effort to Save Grandson-TheIr
Bodies Found Lying Side by Side
In Ruins.


Bodies Found Lying Side by Side
In Ruins.
Butler. Mo. Nov. 24.-Representa-
tive David DeArmond, one Of the most
widely known Democratic congress
men. and his grandson, David A. De-
Almond III. aged six years, were
burned to death in a fire that destroy
Ell the DeArmond homestead here.
The DeArmond home was a large
two-story frame structure, set well
back from the street. On two sides OF
the house and equal with the second
floor four rooms, or outdoor sleeping
apartments. had been constructed ana
at the time the fire broke out the oc-
cupants Of the house occupied these
rooms
Congressman DeArmond and his
young grandson occupied one room on
the soath side Of the building while
Mrs. DeArmond and Mrs. Hattie Clark
a married daughter, were In separate
rooms on the opposite side OF the
house. Nettie BOles, twenty-six years
old. a maid. had a room on the west
end Of the house.
Mrs. Clark was awakened by cry
and on going to the door of her room
saw smoke issuing from the part OF
the house where the congressman and
"Waddie," as the grandson was called
slept
Get me out Of here!" she heard
Waddie cry.
Never mind. son; I'll save you
Congressman DeArmond answered.
Those were the last words either OF
the victims uttered. A moment later
the smoke increased in volume and
Mrs. Clark was forced to flee down
stairs to the telephone. Within a min
ute's time she had given the alarm to
the telephone Office and hurried back
to the room of her mother.
Barely Saves Mrs. DeArmond.
Bv this time the entire second floor
was clouded with smoke and flames
we're leaping from the windows. Crop
ing her way to Mrs. DeArmond's bed
side she literally dragged her from
the room. There was no time to think
of aiding those in the other part of
the house. Urging her mother down
the stairway the younger woman, with
difficulty. succeeded in reaching and
opening the street door.
Nettie Boles. the maid, It developed
later. had been one of the first to es-
cape. She reached the street from the
rear door after the first cry Of fire.
She was unhurt, but too frightened
to comprehend the situation and had
fed from the scene
The home Of James A. DeArmond
son of Congressman DeArmOnd, and
father of the boy who lost his life, Is
near the burned house. James De
Almond rushed to the scene when the
alarm was given and tried to enter
the burning building, but was restrain
ell by neighbors.
The financial loss is placed at $50
OGG and included one Of the best IL
braries in the state The cause OF
the Are is not known The two bodies
were found lying side by side. where
death he'd overtaken the congressman
in his effrt to save his grandson.
"Waddie" DeArmond was Congress
man DeArmcnd's favorite grandchild.
The boy frequently remained at the
home Of his grandparents always oc-
cupving a bed with the congressman.
David A. DeArmond was Pennsyl-
vanian by birth. having first seen the
light of day on a farm in Blair county.
March IS. 1874. He was educated in
the public schools and Dickinson semi