The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-26
DEATH OVERTAKES
PLEASURE PARTY
Three Meet Fiery Fate
When Boat-House
Burns.
TWO SOCIETY
GIRLS VICTIMS
In Trying to Save Them Two
Companions Are, Perhaps
Fatally Injured, While But
Ter Gives His Life in
Vain Attempt at
Rescue.

l l
Barnes, second. of Albany. y Y. are
still in critical condition as result
OF the burns sustained in the fire which
destroyed the boat house of young
Barnes's father William Barnes, Jr.,
last night There was reason for hope
tonight, however. that their injuries
would not prove fatal
Miss Helen Wilson, OF New York,
and Miss Mildren DeHaven, OF Brook
lyn. were burned to death, and Ulysses
Pahud, twenty-one years old, butler
and valet Of the Barnes family, sue
cunloed late last night to his injuries,
largely received in heroic unsuccessful
eHorts TO save the young women. The
latter. In their efforts to escape had
rushed through door which led only
10 closet and there they were i'm
prisoned with flames licking up the
oii-soaked structure on every side.
Kerr Is more seriously injured than
Earncs His arms. chest and head are
terribly burned.
Young Barnes is severely burned
a bout the arms and legs, and is suf-
fering particularly from the results OF
innaling fame and smoke.
Both Kerr and Barnes received their
burns. as did Pahud,. in an attempt TO
rescue Miss DeHaven and Miss Wilson.
Take Bodies TO New York.
HS PdiGHlS os the tWO girls left
to-day for New York with the bodies.
Miss Ruth Wilson and Harry VIII
SON. brother and sister of Miss Helen
Wilson, and Miss Phoebe Judkins. who
escaped from the burning boat house
oy Jumping into the water. were said
to-day to be Frustrated as a result of
the mental shock.
1t Is generally agreed that the FIRE
was started by cigarette stub or a
matcn thrown on an oil mop, which
had been used 70 oil the floor Of the
boathouse 3
The party had been staying at ON
the Cliff" the famous Barnes estate.
founded here by Villa m Barnes
father of William Barnes, Jr. He mar
ried a daughter of Thurlow Weed.
Their sons are named William Barnes
Jr., and Thurlow Weed Barnes. Thur
low Weed Barnes. 3D., is of the third
generation. Thomas Kerr. of New
York. was his guest here.
Prominent In Society.
Both the young women victims of
the disaster were prominent in so
ciety Miss Helen Wilson was the
eldest daughter OF MIR. and Mrs. Harry
r. Wilson. of New York She was
twenty-three years old. Miss Mildred
DeHaven was the daughter OF Mr.. and
Mrs Hugh DeHaven. of Brooklyn.
She was three years younger than
Miss Wilson.
William Barnes. I'd. was giving
tea in the boathouse There we're
seven In the party In all. Pahud was
assisting in waiting on them
The fre came shortly after s O'Clock.
The merry-makers had finished their
tea. and were listening to a concert on
victrola. Suddenly the boathouse
structure fairly burst into flames. II
was reported that there was an ex-
plosion, but this has not been con-
frmed.
When the FIRE started Miss Wilson
room in the rear of the boathouse.
Barnes, Kerr and the butler made
heroic efforts to save the young wo-
men, but the flames had swept
through the sun dried combustible
structure in flash. A succession OF
agonized screams from the rear room
and the dual tragedy was over. Barnes.
Kerr and the butler were all severely
burned in their frantic efforts to save
the girls.
An alarm of hre was sounded and
the Nantucket department was on the
scene quickly. but the FIRE had done
Its work before the firemen arrived.
BY that time the boathouse was hlaz-
ing like heap OF shavings Barnes
and Kerr. nearly out of their mind
with grief. We're trying to get at the
rear room where the two girls had
met fiery death. In the party. be-
side the two young women who met
death and the three men who We're
burned severely. was H. r. Wilson, Jr.,
brother OF Miss Helen Wilson.
Their sister Ruth was in the party
in the room and the young man ran
for her. helping her to the ground
a n ere b,.c iYI
out
Miss Phoebe Judkins. OF New York.
and Miss Tanner; were also the
ened were able to make their way
from the blazing structure.
Of Nantucket, were with the party, and
they helped to rescue the girls who
The flames flashed up so quickly.'
terror OF the building was ell at
once a blaze OF light. don't know
how the fire started; The floor had
that some one threw a match on the
floor and the varnish ignited.
"Mr. Kerr saw the fire and made a
fght back the blaze, The "e mop e' got st
afre and he threw it out into the
water. Some of the other furniture in
the room was blazing, and Mr. Kerr.
also grabbed that up in his bare hands
and attempted to throw it out of the
window, $50 ~
"By this time Mr.. Kerr himself vas
ablaze and could not do anything else
except try to save his own life. In the
meantime was doing what could 10
try to get. my guests out Of the hurn !
ing structure The place was ! filled
with smoke and flame. and 1t was n
terrible situation. s
You couldn't see one person from
another: and had to grope5 my way,
choked me- =! Finally II FOUND myself myself
outside Of the building, and that Is
about all that I can sreoa II.