The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-11-24
DEMOCRAT CHIEF BURNS TO DEATH Representative David A. De
 Armond Dead. GRANDSON ALSO PEREHES ln Night Clothes Other Members of
 Family Escape. bead Representative Was One of Best Known Denocratic Leaders n Country-Nothing Can Be
 Learned of His Actions
 During Fire.

little grandson that congressman Da- vid A. DeArmond, of the Sixth Mis- souri District perished in fire that destroyed his home In Butler. Mo. early today.
 The heroism of the Congressman was made known late this afternoon, when. with his arms locked around the blackened and burned body of the it. tie boy. the Congressman's body was found. He had caught up the 6-year- old lad. David A. DeArmond. IT,, and rushed with him through the ieaping flames that filled their sleeping room. The Congressman fell with his uncon- scious burden and both sank through the floor to quiet death.
 What makes the tragedy unusually pathetic Is the fact that the grandson was the grandfather's idol. The two often slept together. Last night the boy went to his grandfather's house, and after happy evening. the two re- tired.
 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 deathi"
 Yes, son; don't be afraid. Grand pa'll take yop out" was the calm re- ply. Then both went down to their death.
 The remainder of the family sleep ing in the house at the time of the 1lre--Mrs. DeArmond. her daughter, Mrs. Clark and Nettie Bowles, sar- want. were greatly shaken by their ex- periences.
 parts of the country were received by the DeArmonds this afternoon.
 James DeArmond, editor of The Bates County Democrat. who Is son sof the Congressman. and Ia the father Of the boy who was burned. tried to rush Into the burninH house to save the victims. He was prevented from Knew if woula as n vain.
 Saaenpes m Might Clothes.
 Mrs. De Armond, wife of the com gressman. who escaped in her night eiotheB unhurts tainted as soon as she reached the ground. When revived later she became hystericai and it was eome time before she could tell what had happened.
 : The first she knew of the fire she paid. was when she heard her grand- son, Waddie. call out that the house was on fire. Mrs De Armond oc- cupied g room on the first floor while Congressman De Armond and his grandson were in rooms on the sec
 Mrs. De Armond was only barely able to escape with her own life ana had not moment to attempt the res- cue of cthers. The house was of wooden construction and by the time she had reached the front yard the building was wrapped in flames. Fif- teen minutes later 1t was in ashes.
 Mrs. Hattie Clark, the married daughter of Congressman and Mrs De Armond, and the house servant, a wo- man, also slept on the first floor and both escaped within 8 minute or two after the alarm was sounded. Mrs. Clark suffered burned h Aad but was not seriously hurt. The Vsnaid, who escaped through the rear door was mot hurt. Waddie De Armond, the dead boy, was the son of James A De Armond. who lived across the street from the burned house and was visiting his grandparents.
 The fire started at about { o'clock fin the morning. The De Armond home was large two-story frame structure. set back some distance from the street On two sides of the house outdoor sleeping apartments had been con etructed on level with the second floor at the time the fire broke out the occupants of the house were in these rooms.
 Congressman De Armond and hIs young grandson occupied one room on the south side of the building, while Mrs. De Armond and Mrs. Clark were In separate rooms on the opposite side of the house.
 Kettle Bowles. 20 years old, a servant girl had room on the west end of the house. Mrs. Clark was awakened by cry, and going to the door of her room saw smoke issuing from the mart of the house where Congressman De Armond and waddie slept
 Get me out of here." she heard Wad- die cry. g
 "Tn Save You" Never mind. son, I'll save you" Con- gressman De Arfnond answered.
 Those were the last words either of the victims uttered. A moment later the smoke increased in volume and Mrs. Clark fled downstairs to the tele- phone. Within a minutes time she had given the alarm to the telephone office and hurried back to the room of her mother.
 By this time the entire second floor was clouded with smoke and flames were leaping from the windows. Crop Ing her way to Mrs. De Almonds bed- side she hurriedly awakened the Con- gressman's wife and literally dragged her from the room. The two had scarcely reached the ground when Mrs. De Armond tainted and it was neces- sary to carry her from tho scene to save her from the flames.
 Mrs Clark sustained a burned hand. 1 but maintained her composure and helped tO administer to her mother,
 The home of Congressman De Ar- mond was situated across the street from that of James A. De Armond, one of his three sons. By the time Mrs. Clark and her mother had reached a safe place. neighbors and the firemen were gathering.
 The flames by this time entirely de- veloped the big house, shooting from every window and 10 have entered the building would have been extremely dangerous.
 James De Armond. however. dashed for the front door. frantic in an effort 10 save his father and boy. He had already been lost In cloud of smoke before neighbors could get to him and prevent his entering the house. For few minutes there was a struggle, and finally he was dragged to the street.