Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1909-12-01
DeARMoND oREMATED IN HOME.
Wa Democratic Congressman and y
Party Leader--GrandsOn Burned.

Kansas City, Mo-, No". 23.-Rep-
resentative David A. DeArmond, one
of the oldest and most prominent
Democratic members of Congress,
and his grandson, Waddie, aged six,
were burned to death in a fire that
destroyed the DeArmond home at
Butler, Mo-, early to-day.
The other members of the family
escaped, and 1t is believed that none
was hurt. Neither the body of Con-
gressman DeArmond nor that Of his
grandson are yet recovered. 1t is
believed that they were Moderated
Bones found are believed to be those
or the Congressman. Other occupants
In the house who escaped were Mrs.
DeArmOnd and their son and daugh-
ter.
Son Started to Rescue.
The fire, the cause Of which is
not known, started at 3 o'clock this
morning. The DeArmond home is
situated across the street from that
OF his son, James A. DeArmond, who
started to rush into the burning home
OF his father in an attempt to save
the latter, but was restrained by the
younger members OF the family and
neighbors. asf.
The DeArmond home was two
story structure, and when it started
1t burned fiercely. Mrs. DeArmond,
the wife of the Congressman, escaped
in her night clothes unhurt, but she
tainted as soon as she reached the
ground.
When she was revived later she
became hysterical, and it was some
time before she could tell what had
happened. She occupied room on
the first floor, while the Congressman
and his grandson were on the second
floor. She had the first intimation
of the fire when she heard the grand
son cry out the alarm.
She was only barely able to escape
with her own life, not having a mo-
ment to attempt t. rescue the 9TH
ers. The house was built of wood.
BY the time she reached the yard the
building was wrapped in flames, and
10 minutes later it was in ashes.
No Cry from DeArmond.
Mrs. DeArmond heard no call from
her husband. Whether he was smoth-
cred in bed and burned before he
could leave the room, or made an at
tempt to save his life, will probably
never be known. Mrs. Harry Clark,
the congressman married daugh-
ter, and the house servant, who were
sleeping on the first f1oor,were among
the Others to escape.
Was Strong Democratic Leader.
Washington, Nov. 23.-In the sad
death of Congressman DeArmond the
Democrats have lost one of their
strong leaders on the floor of the
House Of Representatives.. He was
member of that body for the past
19 years-a man with wide educa-
tiOn and wide experience, a fluent
speaker, and he had become one of
the principal resources of the Demo-
cratic party in debating national
questions.
He will long be remembered for
his brilliant oratory, and especially
for his power Of sarcasm and capa-
city for invective. EIe was conspicu-
GUS as a party fighter. He was in
clined to be pugnacious. This quail
ty was once the means Of getting him
into an alteration with John Sharp
Williams, then leader Of the House.
He was an aSpirant for the leader
ship Of the House until the recogni-
tion OF Champ Clark by the minor
ity.
Brief Sketch of His Life
furnished by him for the Congress
sional Record Is as follows:
David A. DeArmond, Democrat,
of Butler, Mo-, was born In Blair
county, Pa, March IS, 1914; was
Drought up on a farm; educated in
the common schools and at Williams
port Dickinson Seminary; was State
Senator. Circuit Judge and Supreme
Court Commissioner; was elected to
the 52d Congress, SD, saith, 55th,
seth, 57th," etc.
Congressman DeArmond was very
well known in South Carolina, hav-
Ing lectured repeatedly in various
cities in the state. He was in great
demand as lyceum speaker. He
was man of great modesty.
Governor Brown has commuted to