Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1909-01-22
WAS BURNED TO DEATH
Alex WotZka Meets Horrible
Fate--Dau&hter Burned In
Attempt to Rescue Him

Attempt to Rescue Him
Alexander Wotzka was burned to
death Wednesday morning at bawdy
house located on the hill east of the
city just out OF the limits, which
place was run by his daughter, Mrs.
Pearl Miller. The daughter in
heroic effort to save her father was
also badly burned about the face,
neck and arms, and was taken to the
hospital for treatment. It is thought
by the physician in attendance that no
permanent injury will result.
The house which was frame and
tar papered, took fire some time after
four o'clock, presumably starting IN
the kitchen.
Lottie Wilson, one Of the inmates
Of the place, was the first to discover
the fire, being awakened by the
action OF the smoke, and immediately
awakened her room mate, Alice Lar.
son; also Pearl Miller who roomed
upstairs. The women fled in terror
from the building as already the
flames and smoke were becoming
unbearable, the stairs falling but
very short time after Pearl Miller
passed down them. The women
escaped with only their night clothes.
The unfortunate man called "Oh :!
daughter, where are your The
daughter responding with an effort to
give him help, but was unable to
reach him, and she received burns as
stated above. The daughter, calling
for her father. was about to make
another attempt to rescue him, when
she was restrained by the other two
women. To have gone into the house
again would have mean certain death
as the flames were now leaping all
about the structure and the place was
sutfocating with smoke.
After some minutes they made their
way in their bare feet to the home OF
Tony Carp1nski, where they were
given shelter. and doctor was
summoned, the alarm of fire being
turned in in the meantime. The
injured woman was ordered taken to
the hospital, and the other two were
furnished some clothing and taken to
a hotel.
The chemical alone responded, on
account of the distance OF the fire
from hydrant, but the fremen did
not know of the unfortunate occurrence
until they had returned from the
scene, as no one was about the place
when they arrived.
Wotzka. after being dismissed on a
charge OF insanity, a short time ago.
was placed by his daughter with a
relative in the country, and she had,
on Tuesday morning. gone after her
father, arriving at the place where he
met his death about = 80 in the even
ing. They did not retire until about
four O'Clock, and they could hardly
have been asleep very long when the
place took fire. 1t could not be
ascertalned whether the fire started
from the inside or outside of the
house. This question IS brought up
on the theory that possibly the origin
OF the fire was incendlary, as there
were some strongly opposed to the
house being occupied for the purpose
it was. especially SO, as one OF the
inmates stated that the fire in the
kitchen stove, which place seems to be
the seat of the fire, was left very low,
and in good condition.
The remains which were badly
charred and unrecognizable, We're
brought to the Harting & Son morgue
by Undertaken G. r. Anderson
Wednesday morning, where a post
norton examination was held. Parts
of the limbs and body were burned
away.
Coroner 0. J. Brown called an
inquest for four O'Clock OF the same
day, the jury being composed of Phil
S. Randall, Anton Kerich, Morrill,
Bryant, Marion Roberts, New Briggs
and Peter Lauerman. County Attorney
Cameron questioned the witnesses
The witnesses called were Alice Lar
son and Lottie Wilson. who were
inmates Of the house, DR.. E. E. Hall,
who viewed the remains, &. r.
Anderson, the undertaken, and DR.. n.
W. Chance, who attended Pearl
Miller. Mrs. Miller. on account Of
her injuries was not able to testify.
The testimony, however, did not
bring out anything startling, the glst
Of it being practically as stated above.
The coroner's jury handed IN the
following verdict:
Upon their oaths DO say, that the
said Alexander Wotzke came to his
death by being burned to death in the
fire which consumed the house he
was lodging in on the night of
January 10, A. D. 1909. in the city OF
Little Falls, Minnesota: In testimony
whereof the said coroner and Jurors of
this inquest set their hands the day
and.. year aforesaid.
Alexander Wotzka was an eccentric
character and was well known in this
city and Royalton and other parts Of
the county, as well as Long Prairie,
at which place the family have made
their home for many years He was AZ
years of age.
The house belonged to R e. Scoles,
and was insured for $500. The con-
tents were insured for $500. The loss
on both IS total. There were also
three dogs and cat burned to death.
The funeral of Alexander Wotzke,
who met death in Wednesday morn
ing fire will be held from Harting
, & Son s moIgue this morning, and the
remains inferred in the Polish
cemetery.