The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-11-24
Congressman and His Grandson
Ire Burned to Death In
fire That Destroys Home
EFFORTS TO SAVE THE TWO
ENTIRELY UNkvA|L|NG
DeArmond's Death Will Be Blow to
the Democrats, Whose Cause He
Has Served SO Faithfully For
a Number of Years.


Kansas City. November 2s.-It was in a
vain effort to save the life of his little
grandson that Congressman David A. De-
Almond of the Sixth Missouri district,
pershed in a fire that destroyed his home
in Butler, Mo-, early today
The heroism of the congressman was
with his arms locked around the black
ened and burned body of the little boy,
the congressmans body was found. He
had caught up the 6-year-old lad. David
A. DeArmond, Jr., and rushed with him
through the leaping flames that filled
their sleeping room. The congressman fell
with his unconscious burden and both
sank through the floor to quiet death.
What makes the tragedy unusually pa
thetic is the fact that the grandson was
the grandfathers idol. The two often
slept together. Last night the boy went
to his grandfather's house and after a
happy evening the two retired.
Died For Grandson.
The next the family heard of them was
early today, when, from behind the smoke
and flames that enveloped the house. the
boy screamed:
"Oh, grandpa, get me out of here, I'm
burning to death!''
'Yes, son, don't be afraid, Grandpa IL
take you out was the calm reply. Then
both went down to their death
The remainder of the family sleeping in
the house at the time of the fire-Mrs. De-
Armond her daughter, Mrs. Clark, and
Nettie Boles, a servant, were greatly
shaken by their experiences.
Messages of coincidence from all parts of
the country were received by the DEAR
monds this afternoon.
James DeArmond, editor of the i5eses
County Democrat, who is son OF the
congressman, and Ia the father OF the
boy who was burned, tried to rush into
the burning house to save the victims
He was prevented from entering the
house by friends who knew it would be
in vain
Mrs. Clark thinks that Congressman De-
Armond was aroused in time to save
himself. but that In awakening the boy
and attempting to carry him from danger
he became confused in the smoke which
was momentarily growing denser, and
was overcome before he was able to find
the way out.
Fire Starts Early.
The fire started at about o'clock in
the morning. The DeArmond home was
large two-story frame structure, set back
some distance from the street. On two
sides of the house outdoor sleeping apart
ments had been constructed on a level
with the second floor, and at the time
of the fire the occupants of the house
were in these rooms.
Congressman DeArmond and his young
grandson occupied one room on the south
side of the building, while Mrs. Dear
Mond and Mrs. Clark were in separate
rooms on the opposite side of the house.
Nettie Boles, 20 years old. a servant
girl, had a room on the west end of the
house. Mrs. Clark was awakened by a
cry and going to the door of her room.
saw smoke issuing from the part of the
house where Congressman DeArmond and
Waddie slept.
Get me out Of here" she heard Wad-
die cry.
Never mind son. I'll save you," Con-
gressman DeArmond answered
Those were thelast words either of the
victims uttered. A moment later the
smoke increased in volume and Mrs.
Clark fed down stairs to the telephone.
within minutes time she had given the
alarm to the telephone office and hurried
back to the room of her mother.
Saved Her Mother.
BY this time the entire second floor
was clouded with smoke and flames were
leaping from the windows. Cropping her
way to Mrs DeArmond's bedside she hur-
riedly awakened the congressman's wife
and literally dragged her from the room.
The two had scarcely reached the ground
when Mrs. DeArmond tainted and 1t was
necessary to carry her from the scene
to save her from the flames.
Mrs Clark sustained a burned hand
but maintained her composure and helped
to administer to her mother.
The home of Congressman DeArmond
was situated across the street from that
of James A. DeArmond, one of his three
sons BY the time Mrs. Clark and her
mothed had reached a safe place, neigh
bors and the firemen were gathering.
The flames by this time entirely en-
veloped the big house, shooting from
every window and to have entered the
building would have been extremely
dangerous
Too Late to Help.
James DeArmond, however, dashed for
the front door, frantic in an effort to
save his father and boy. He already
had been lost in cloud of smoke be-
fore neighbors could get to him and pre-
vent his entering the house. For few
minutes there was a struggle, and finally
he was dragged to the street. Fifteen
minutes later nothing but ashes remained
of the house Nettie Bowles, the nurse.
II developed later had been one of the
first to escape. 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 he scene
,rhe loss is placed at $4,000, and in
cluded one of the best libraries in the
state.
DeArmond's Family.
Congressman DeArmond had three sons
ana a daughter. James A. DeArmond is
the only son in the west He Is editor
of the Butler Democrat. and was adJu-
tant general on the stan of Gov. Joseph
w Folk.
sWsddle" DeArmond was a son OF
Jamea DeArmond. His right name was
nav,d A. DeArmond. He was named
sfter his grandfather and was the lat