Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-24
ARMOND AND
GRANDSON ARE
CLOSE IN DEATH
cONGRESSMAN'S BODY FOUND
IN RUINS OF HOME
MET HIS END TRYING TO SAVE
CHILD OF SON
Pathetic Scenes Told OF at Fatal Fire
That Destroyed the Life of Mis-
souri's Famous Repre-
sentative
tBy Associated Press.l

II ANSAS CITY, Nov. 23.-It was in
Ia a vain effort to save the life of
IA his little grandson that Con-
gressman David A. de Almond of the
Sixth Missouri district perished in
fire that destroyed his home in Butler,
Mo-, early today. The cause of the
fire is unknown.
The heroism of the congressman was
made known late this afternoon, when
with his arms locked around the
burned body of the little boy, De Ar
mond's body was found. He had
caught up the 6-year-old lad, David
A de Almond, jr., and rushed with
him through the flames that filled his
room. He fell with his unconscious
burden and both sank through the
floor to quick death.
What makes the tragedy unusually
pathetic is the fact that the grandson
was the grandfather's idol. The two
were inseparable and often slept to-
gether. Last night the boy went to
his grandfather's house as usual and
after a happy evening the two retired
Boys Cry Was Heard
The next the family heard Of them
was early this morning when from be-
hind the smoke and flames that en-
veloped the house the boy screamed'
"Oh. grandpa, get me out of here
quick, I'm burning to death
Yes, son; don't be afraid, grandpa
will take you out" was the calm reply
Then both went down to their death.
The rest of the family sleeping In
the house at the time-Mrs. de Ar
mond, her daughter, Mrs. Clark, and
Miss Nettie Boles, a servant-were
greatly shaken by their experiences.
Mrs. de Almond tainted and would
have met death in the flames had not
her daughter dragged her out into the
yard. -,
Messages of coincidence from all
narts of the country were received by
the De Almonds this afternoon.
Sons Efforts Futile
James A. de Almond, editor of the
Bates County Democrat, son Of the
congressman and father of the boy
burned, tried to rush into the burning
house to save his father and son, but
was prevented by others.
Mrs. Clark was awakened by cry
and going to the door saw smoke is
suing from the part of the mousse
where Congressman de Almond ana
Waddie slept. The cry was that OF
the boy and the answer that OF tne
congressman. These were the lasI
words either OF lne NlCliiS u''~ -
A moment later the smoke increasea
greatly i'm volume, and Mrs. Clark fled
downstairs to the telephone. Within a
minute she had given the alarm 10 t the
telephone office and hurried back to the
room of her mother.
nv this time the entire second floor
was clouded with smoke, and flames
were leaping from the windows.
Daughter Saves Mother
Gropiug her way to Mrs. de Almond S
bedside. she hurriedly awakened the
congressman's wife and dragged her
from the room. There was no time 10
aid the others.
Urging her mother down the STAR
way, the younger woman with dlfnculty
succeeded in reaching the street door
and opening it. The two had scarcely
reached the ground when Mrs. de Ar
mond tainted, and 1t was necessary TO
carry her from the scene to save her
from the flames.
Mrs Clark suffered a burned hand,
but maintained her composure anu
| helped to administer to her mother.
The home of Congressman de Almond
was situated across the street from rom
that of James de Almond, one of his
! three sons, and father of the boy
| burned to death.
Meant Death to Reseuers
BY the time Mrs Clark and her
mother had reached a safe place neigh
! bors and the firemen were gathering
| The flames by this time entirely en-
yeloped the big house, shooting from
windows, and to have entered the build
| ing would have been certain death.
| James de Almond, however, dashed for
the front door. frantic in his effort to
save his father and son. He had al
ready been lost in a cloud of smoke be-
fore neighbors could get to him and
prevent his entering the house. James
then was dragged to the street by peo-
pie who refused to let him sacrifice
himself
Nettie Boles, the maid. it developed
later, had been one Of the first to es-
cape. She was unhurt but too fright
ened to comprehend the situation, and
had fed from the scene.