Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-30
'WLLE7S HOME GONE
Fire Destroys Millionaire
Horseman's Country Home.
LOSS is OVER 100000
Rich Neighbors' Efforts Unavailing
to Save Effects.
WOMAN HAS MARROW ESCAPE
Ceiling of Room Caves In as She Is
Leaving It-Sleeping Maid
Aroused.
LOSS IS OVER 100000
WOMAN HAS NARROW ESCAPE
SppciaI Disuaich 70 The Star.

Special Dispatc h 70 The Star.
WHITE PLAINS, n. Y. November 30
Tie large colonial mansion on Gedney
lets, the millionaire horse show exhibitor
Plains. was completely destroyed by fire
this morning, entailng q loss estimated
to he between 100000 and $4JO.OOO.
Surrounding Gedney Farm are the
estates of many New York millionaires.
With their servants they endeavored to
save the house with hand hose. Efforts
were fruitless and now ali that remains
of the stately manor house is three tall
chimneys.
Daniel W. Maloney, a wealthy horse
man and secretary of the Westchester
Horse Show Association, neighbor, led
a corps of men in trying 10 save some of
the costly furniture in the house. The
heat was so intense they could save but
three pianos, some antique clocks and
other small pieces. All Mr.. Wiilets
costly furniture, bric-a-brac and antiques
went up in smoke.
Mr.. Willets Not at Home.
Nh. Willets was not living in his man
sion at the time of the fire, as he had
been residing the past year at another
country place, which he owns in New
Hampshire. When he moved away from
White Plains he sold all his costly horse
show thoroughbreds and a string of cat
tie which brought him many thousands
of dollars
Up to two weeks ago Mr.. Willets
coachn'an had been the caretaker of the
Wlllets place: When ne moved away
Hiram Benedict took charge. In the
house were Mr.. and Mrs. Benedict. their
two young children: Mary Rush. a
laundress: Mary Morris a maid, and
helper.
The fire was discovered at o'clock
In the kitchen. She smelled smoke and
running out in the hall discovered that
the third floor was in flames. The fire
had evidently started in little room
above the private apartments of Mr. Will
lets, which were Oh the southeast side
Of the house.
Mar Morris, the maid. was asleep
Mrs. Benedict had great difficulty in
reaching her room and getting her out in
safety. The maid lost all OF her belong
ings and a purse containing a consider
able amount of money.
Mr.. Benedict was in the basement
When he heard the cry Of fire he rushed
through the house with hand hose. try
ing to put out the flames. There was
little water pressure and he could do
nothing. Then he turned his attention
to saving his children.
Mrs. Benedict's Narrow Escape.
A1rs. Benedict had a narrow escape
from serious injury. if not death. while
trying to save some valuables. She was
in an apa rtment on the second floor when
the ceiling caved in just as she was pass
ing out of the door into the hallway.
There was a tifty-mile northwest gale
blowing when the fire broke out This
famed the flames until the big house be-
came ore pillar of fire. In one hours
time the entire structure had been almost
burned to the ground.
When the White Plains firemen
reached the scene all they could do was
TO watch the flames finish the work OF
destruction.
Among valuable articles that Mr.. Will
lets lost was a gold-lined silver cup
which he won with his jumper Heather
bloom and which he highly cherished. 4
number of horse show trophies were also
burned.
Mr.. Willets arrived at White Plains at
$50 O'Clock on his way to attend SUI
preme Court. where he has Il suit before
Supreme Court Justice Morschauser to
recover $4,000 from H. w Poor G.
Co.. bankers. the value of railroad bonds
which he purchased from them, and
which he says are worthless
The first news he had on alightine
from the train was that his fine home
was in ashes. He hurried to Gedney
farm in an automobile, and seemed to be
much affected by his loss
The origin of the fire is a mystery.