Arizona republican., 1911-04-14
TEMPE
LOST HIS LIFE IN
 X BURNING HOME
Another Tragic Death in Tempe This
 Week

Another tragic death, making the second this week, took place in Tenn pc Wednesday evening when Vim. H. Higginbotham was burned to death in his home just back of the Casa Loma. How the fire started no one knows. The old gentleman was very feeble and used a candle instead of lamp; it is presumed that in all probability the fire started from this candle. It was shortly after eight o'clock when the fire was first noticed. It started very suddenly and a moment after the first flame was seen, the house was all ablaze. Be- ing an old frame that has stood there for years, it burned like finder. The alarm was turned in promptly and the department made a fine response. A hose was attached to the Casa Loma hydrant and in a very short time a stream of water was playing on the building.
 Those in the eastern part of town who heard the alarm and saw the blaze, felt certain at first glance that it was the Daggs building. In a few moments after the alarm was sounded the streets were filled with people and for a while the fire ere ated intense excitement.
 Fortunately there was no wind blowing and this fact combined with the efficient work of the fire de- partment, prevented any serious dam age to the Casa Loma. just across the alley. The Casa Loma fence was scOrched somewhat but the damage done was hardly worth con- sidering.
 It was known that the old gentle man was in the building and those who first arrived at the scene of the fire made an effort to rescue him but with no success. So fiercely did the flames burn it was impossible for any one to get near the door of the building. After the flames had been eXtinguiShed. the remains of the old man were found near the back door. burned almost to a crisp. It was impossible to tell whether he had been in bed or not but the supposi- tion is that when the fire started, he tried to get out the back door but in his feeble condition, was un-
 
 quickly suffOcated.
 MT HigginbOtham was about eighty-five years of age. He came here some eighteen or twenty years ago and formed the acquaintance of Jack Harris. Mir Harris took a strong liking to the old man and in the years that have since passed. saw to it that he was well cared for. The old gentleman was an ex- pert machinist in his younger days and in recounting his early experi ences. always took pride that he had helped to set up the first power printing press in New York city. For many years past his health has been very poor and only a short time ago he was taken to the county hospital He refused to stay there and wan dered away from the place one night returning to his home here.
 So far as known the only relatives he has living is a sister and her whereabouts are unknown. Immedi- ately after the fire was out and the remains of the old man had been removed from the ruins of his home. Coroner Carr called a jury and the circumstances of the accident were looked into as far as possible. The jury merely found that the deceased came to his death through the burn ing of his home The funeral was held yesterday morning
 The building that was burned. was the property of w. J. Kinsbury. It was of no great value but is prac- tically a total loss