New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-25
THREE MEET DEATH
IN BOATHOUSE FIRE
Helen Wilson, of New York, and
Mildred De Haven, of Brook
Iyn. Victims at Nantucket.
GUESTS OF VIM. BARNES SON
Blaze in Albany Leaders Boat
house Caused by Match Thrown
on Newly Oiled Floor-Young
People Jump Into Harbor
Valet Dies from Burns.

Nantucket. Mass, June 2i-Two young
women. Miss Helen Wilson. OF New
York city and Miss Mildred De haven
Of Brooklyn. and Ulysse Pahud, valet,
lost their lives in fire which destroyed
q boathouse owned by William Barnes.
jr.. Of Albany. tonight Several othern
were injured. Thomas Kerr. OF New YORK
City, so badly that he may not recover.
In the party also were Thurlow Weed
Barnes. 2d. son Of the owner OF the ooa'-
house; Harry Wilson. 1r, Miss Phoebe
Iudkins. Miss Ruth Wilson. all OF New
York. and Miss Tanner. OF Buffalo MISS
Helen Wilson who was killed was the
daughter of II. r. Wilson. OF New YORK
Miss De Haven, the other victim. was
the daughter OF Hugh de Haven OK
! Brooklyn.
I-lyssc Pahud was the valet OF Willian'
Barnes. sr. He was burned about the
bodv and head. and died shortly before
midnight
According TO the story told by the
Young people who escaped, the hre was
! started
on recently oiled floor. Almost imme-
diately the room was filed with flames
and those who escaped did so only py
iurninR overheard. The valet was one
of the last 10 leave the boathouse. ana
he and Mr.. Kerr were both seriously
burned, while others Of the party sur
| fcred minor injuries. The bodies OF the
dead were recovered. but both were
burned beyond recognition.
Mother Of Victim, collapses.
The death of Miss Wilson was re-
ported 10 her mother. who is guest
at a hotel here by the girls brother and
sister. Harry and Ruth Wilson. They
rushed into the hotel with their cloth
ing dripping, saying, Mamma, we did
all we could 70 save Helen. but she Is
burned to a crisp"
The mother Immediately collapsed.
Several of the young people who
escaped death by jumping into the water
were rescued by the crowd Of summer
eople, who attracted 10 the spot
by the fire anu tne calls for help. The
boathouse was in plain sight Of num-
| Der OF hotels and summer cottages. Few
of the witnesses, however. realized until
some time later that in the few minutes
that the flames lasted two persons had
lost their lives.
The young people were the guests Of
Thurlow Weed Barnes. ID. the elder
son Of Mr.. and Mrs. William Barnes. jr.
Of Albany who was having a house
party Mr.. and Mrs. Barnes are not
here at present.
Mr.. Barnes Tells Of Fire.
Although In a serious condition from
inhaling smoke and fumes, young
Barnes was able to tell fairly complete
story Of the fire. He said:
we were sitting, about the boathouse
listening TO a phonograph when one Of
the young men who was smoking threw
a match To the floor IL landed close TO
a mop which had been used during the
day to oil the floor and which was stand
| Ing in the corner Almost Immediately
the flames spread over the entire floor
and a minute later the room was mass
OF fire.
"All OF the doors were closed. and
with one accord We started for them
Miss Wilson and Miss De Haven went
IN the wrong door and were penned in
small room. The rest Of US reached the
outer air and were able to save our
selves by jumping into the water. When
we realized that Miss Wilson and Miss
Do Haven had not escaped there was no
wav for us TO go back after them. MISS
Wilson was twenty-one years Old and
Miss De Haven eighteen years old.
Two Men Likely to Die.
! Young Barnes and Thomas Kerr ars
the most seriously injured. Kerr's recov-
cry is doubtful. The only members OF
the party to escape without injury were
Harry and Ruth Wilson, brother and
sister OF the burned girl, and Miss
/ pbpbe Judkins. Miss Tanner, whose
home is in Buffalo. had her clothing
burned. and was slightly injured.
Two employees. who were in another
part of the building. escaped with dim.
Guilty. but were uniniured.
The fire destroyed many thousand dol
! lars worth OF valuable furniture. per-
| soual effects, brio -brac and curios be-
longing TO Mr.. and Mrs. Barnes. No
estimate OF the property loss has been
made. but 1T will be heavy. II was said
] tonight.
The boathouse one of the largest and
most valuable structures ~ its kind on
the island stood on the end OF Com
mercial Wharf. surrounded on three
sides by water. so that the towns fire