Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-26
Butler in Attempt 10 Save Them
Receives Fatal Injuries.
Two Young Men Also in Critical
Condition from Heroic Efforts.
Young People Prominent In n. ".
Fire Caused by Oiled Floor.

Nantucket, Mass, June 25.-Al-
though Thomas Kerr of New York
and Thurlow Weed Barnes, Ind, of
Albany, n. Y, are still suffering Sc
verely, and are in a critical condition
as result of the burns they sus-
tanned in the fire which destroyed
the boathouse of young Barnes
father, William Barnes, Jr., of AL
bany, last night, it was believed to-
night that the number of victims of
the fire would not be more than three.
Miss Helen Wilson of New York and
Miss Mildred De Haven of Brook
Ign, both socially prominent in New
York were burned to death, and Ulys-
ses Pahud, butler and valet of the
Barnes family. succumbed late last
night to his injuries. largely received
in unsuccessful attempts to save the
young women, who, in their efforts
to escape had rushed through the
nearest door which led only to closet,
and there were imprisoned with flames
licking up the oil soaked structure
on every side.
The condition of Kerr, who was
frightfullY burned in the efforts to
rescue the young women. in which
Barnes also received severe wounds,
is the more serious of the two. At
tending physicians. while regarding
his condition as critical, still give him
an even chance for recovery. Should
he recover, Kerr will be disfgured
for life. as the flesh is burned from
both his arms almost to the bones,
and his head and chest are terribly
lacerated. sx
Young Barnes, who had as his
guests at house party held in the
boat house last evening. a number of
the earlier arrivals among the young
er set of the summer colonists here,
is believed to be almost certain of
recovery He is severely burned about
the arms and legs and is suffering par
ticularly from the results of inhaling
flame and smoke.
Miss Ruth Wilson and Harry Wilson,
brother and sister of Miss Helen Will
son. who was burned to death, with
Miss Phoebe Judkin. all members of
the house party. who escaped from the
burning boat house by jumping from
the windows into the water, were said
today to be Frustrated as a result of
the mental shock. Miss Yanner of
Buffalo, who sustained minor burns
before she left the blazing house. was
resting as comfortably as could be ex-
pected tonight. physicians said.
When Ulysses Pahud the butler.
died just before midnight last night,
after suffering for hours from his
burns it was with words of regret on
his lips that his efforts to save the i'm
prisoned young women had been I'M
successful. The young Frenchman is
regarded here as having been the hero
and again into the burning boathouse,
only to be forced back each time by
the great heat and sitting smoke. Like
Kerr and Barnes he found it impossible
to penetrate TO the closet in which
were penned the two young women.
1t is generally agreed that the fire
was started by a cigarette stub or a
match, thrown on an oil mop which
had been used within a few days to
oil the floor of the boathouse. The
structure, valued at thousands of dol
lars, was in ashes today.
The bodies OF the two girls, Helen
Wilson and Mildred DeHaven. We're
taken to New York by the parents of
the young people this afternoon. Mr..
and Mrs. William Barnes, Jr, of AL
bany, n. Y, parents of young Thurlow
Weed Barnes, whose guests the young
| people We're. arrived in Nantucket late
today and are now al the bedside of
their SON.