The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1909-05-27
FOUR LIVES LOST
IN FIRE At ELDON
Grandfather and Three Children
Burned to Death.
MYSTERY SURROUNDS AFFAIR
Evidences Point to Foul Play--Holo-
caust Occurred Early This, Morn
ing-lnmates Could Not
Be Reused.
Try SURROUNDS AFFAIR

Eldon, Ia, May PA mysterious
fire occurred here about four o'clock
this morning, in which the lives OF four
people went out. A small residence
property in the outskirts of the city
was burned in an unaccountable man
ner and the charred and unrecogniZ-
able remains of an old man, JOB Car
ter and his three grandchildren, Lyle,
Hazel and Lynn Shaw were taken from
the smoking ruins Of the home.
So much of mystery surrounds the
case that careful investigation will be
made by authorities. If murder has
been done the fire has obiterated all
evidence of the deed. The circum-
stances of the fire seem to point
strongly toward foul play of some sort.
The house was almost consumed
when the fire was discovered by
neighbor living at distance from the
place. Bert Davis, who is associated
with his father, w. d. Davis, in the
publication of the Eldon Forum, was
the first to discover the fire and to
turn in the alarm. He was awakened
about four o'clock this morning by a
strong odor of smoke in his room. He
was puzzled for moment believing
his own home was on fire. An immedi-
ate investigation led to the discovery
of the source of the fire, the Shaw
house about four lots distant from the
Davis place The house was apart
from all other places and was in an
isolated position. The building was
wrapped in flames when the fire was
first seen by Mr. Davis. He turned in
the affirm and hurriedly dressed and
ran to the place. He thought strange
Of the fact that no one was about the
place and wondered if any one could
still be in the burning building. The
entire house was sheeted in flame and
he could not approach door or window
on any side on account of the heat.
He picked up some rocks and threw
through the windows seeking to arouse
the inmates if any one might be in
the burning house. No response was
received, however.
The fire company had long run to
the scene of the trouble. BY the time
they arrived the roof and a part Of
the side walls of the dwelling had fall
en- in and the bodies could be seen ly
ing on a bed that was fast being con-
sumed. The bodies seemed to be ly-
ing as if in sleep and were not drawn
or irregular as they would have been
II any one of them had been aroused
by the fire. The body Of the old man
was found in another room apart from
the children. The charred remains
were lying on or near the ruins of an
other bed.
Mrs. Shaw, the mother Of the chill
dren, is engaged as cook in an all
night 9Staurant of Eldon. The grand
father, Mr.. Carter, has been staying
with the children nights as they were
not old enough to be left alone. Mr..
Carter was an old soldier and though
somewhat feeble was entirely RESPONSE
BILE and capable Of the charge entrust-
ed to him.
The people believe that murder has
been done, and yet no motive can be
assigned. The hour of the fire was
unusual. 1t could not have resulted
from breakfast preparations, as it was
not the usual hour for the children or
the old soldier to be up. 1t IS unreas-
enable to suppose that no one of the
four inmates of the house would have
been aroused by the burning of the
building. No fire had been in the
house so far as is known since the
previous day, and the source of the
fire Is as mysterious as is the fire it.
SELL
The house was small frame struc-
ture and it was practically destroyed
when the fire department arrived. The
ruins were soon cooled sufficiently to
permit the firemen to enter the place
and remove the bodies of the victims.
Everything about the place was mass
of ruins and il there had been any
evidence of crime every trace or clue
had been completely destroyed.
The case has caused great excite
ment and the place is being visited by
hundreds of people, all of whom are
on the lookout for some slight clue
that may throw light upon the affair.
Mrs. Leila Shaw, the mother, is
frantic and is being guarded by
friends to prevent self-destruction.
She Is employed as night cook at
Cline & Mulvaneys restaurant.
Job Carter was a grandfather of
Miss Pearl Erskin, an employee of the
Frankel Dry Goods Co., in this city,
and in response to a telegram inform
ing her OF the tragedy, she left for FL
don this afternoon. Miss Erskin's
mother resides in Ottumwa.