The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-11-27

Democratic Leader Sacrificed His Life
In Effort to Save Grsndson-Thelr
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 ILL., aged six years. were
burned to death in Are that destroy
ed the DeArmond homestead here.
The DeArmond home was large
,wo-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. and
az the time the Are broke out the oc
cupants of the house occupied these
rooms,
Congressman DeArmond and his
young grandson occupied one room on
the south side OF the building, while
Mrs. DeArmond and Mrs. Hattie Clark,
married daughter. were in separate
rooms On the opposite side Of the
house Ncitie Boles. twenty six years
old. n maid. had a room on the west
end Of the house.
Mrs. Clark was awakened by a cry
and on going to the door Of her room
saw smoke issuing from the part oil
the house where the congressman and
"Waddle." as the grandson was called,
slept
Get me out OF herel" 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 fee 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.
BY this time the entire second floor
was clouded with smoke and flames
were leaping from the windows. Crop
ing her way to Mrs. Diamonds 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. II 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 10 enter
the burning building. but was restrain
ed by neighbors.
The financial loss is placed at 500
600. and included one OF the best IL
braries in the state The cause OF
the Are Is not known. The two bodies
we're found lying side by side. where
death had overtaken the congressman
in his effort to save his grandson.
"Waddie" DeArmond was Congress
man Diamonds favorite grandchild.
The boy frequently remained at the
home Of his grandparents. always oc-
cupying a bed with the congressman.
David A. DeArmond was a Pennsyl-
vanlan 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
nary. Williamsport, Pa
Removing to Missouri, he selected
Butler as his future home. studied law,
was admitted to the bar and engaged
in practice. A fluent speaker. he soon
attracted attention. and was elected a
presidential elector for Cleveland and
Hendricks in 1884. He subsequently
was chosen state senator on the Dem
ocratic ticket. and was also made a
circuit Judge and a commissioner for
the supreme court OF Missouri.
He became a member Of congress
In 1892. being elected 10 represent the
Sixth Missouri district. and was re
elected each term since He was one
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