Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-13
Five Perish in Fire.


FARIBAULT, Minn., May 13.-Bert
Sperry, his three children and their
grandmother were burned to death in
fire which destroyed their home in
this city. Mrs. Sperry and two chill
dren were saved.
The fire started in the kitchen. Mrs.
Sperry and the baby were rescued from
the second story by a neighbor. While
mr.. Sperry was trying to save the other
children and the grandmother he col
lapsed. His body and those OF the other
victims were found IN the basement.
Died in Hotel Fire.
JACKMAN, Me-. May 13.-Fred Chilean
of New Brunswick, a camp cook, was
burned to death: Henry Hays of Green
vile was seriously burned, and Harry
Landry. a hotel employe, received minor
injuries in a fire which destroyed the
Armstrong House. the principal hotel
station.
The property loss did not exceed $4,000.
shriveled by Explosion.
PITTSBURG, May 1:.-When barrel
OF cap-making material exploded early
today at the plant Of the Pittsburg Cap
and Pistol, Company. in Homestead,
black powder so shriveled the body OF
Foreman Joseph Junn. aged forty four
years, that when found his identity
could not be ascertained for some time
A Young boy also working in the plant
was badly injured.
The factory was wrecked. Windows
for two blocks about the plant were
shattered by the Iorce of the explosion.
The concern has been working night
and day to fill Fourth OF July Oroers
for toy pistols and caps.
Flee Before Forest Fire.
GRAND MARAIS. Mimi. May 1s-John
B. Elving, his wife, with a mcnth-old
baby, and six other children, the oldest
fifteen years, are in hospitals here, fol-
lowing a heart-breaking thirty mile trip
through the flaming forests between here
and Upper Brule lake. 1t took them five
days. They were alternately almost
burned and frozen to death. and two of
the little children We're saved from drown
ing in the swift current of Brule river
by the family'S giant Newfoundland dog.
Fleeing homesteaders have left this en-
tire district now uninhabited. When
Elving and his family were routed from
their beds Sunday morning by advancing
fres they beat hasty retreat with a
small stock of provisions.
The first day and night they progressed
ten miles SO close to deer. bears. and
other wild beasts that Elving was forced
to drive them to one side to furnish pas
sage for his terrified family The crack
ling of flames in the underbrush and the
roar Of the wind rang constantly in their
ears. The second day they advanced only
five miles.
Surrounded by Flames.
On the third day, upon rounding
bend in the river, they faced a veritable
furnace speeding through the dry and
cracking timbers toward them. They
retreated. but Elving discovered fires ap-
preaching from behind. With his haudax
he cut limbs from trees on the bank and
stationed himself and his family neck
deep in water under a netted screen Of
nnderbrush There covering branches fell
in ashes above their heads. which they
submerged entirely from time to time
until the fire passed.
The fourth day surrounding fires again
forced them to resort to the same artifice.
Two Of the younger children, who VEN
tured too far out, were swept in the cur
rent. The famtly's dog, which had so far
by swimming In the river evaded the
fires. warned Elving. and with the aid
of the animal. he rescued both. The
Newfoundland dog was lost later. having
been cut off by fire while foraging for
food.