The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-02-04
HEROIC MOTHER
GIVES HER LIFE
TO SAVE BABES
Infant of Four Months Pulls
Over Kerosene Lamp and
Clothing Catches
Mrs. Spada Hugs Child to
Her Breast, and Saves It,
But Is Herself Burned so
Badly that She Dies.

Colombo Spada's birthday party
merriment that rang through his lit
tie home, 81 Rockland street, north
Of Old Mill Green, last evening, has
given way today to abject grief. His
young wife is dead heroine. She
gave her life that her youngest child
Mary, aged 4 months, might live. Her
death occurred at the Bridgeport hos
pital before daybreak today. 1t was
known from early last evening, when
she received fatal burns, that her
death was only a question Of hours,
and only a woman with the stout and
courageous heart Of the plucky young
mother would have survived as long
as she did.
Colombo Spada is an Industrious,
frugal laborer, whose patient and per-
severing efforts have resulted in his
being able to secure cosy little home
for his family. Colombo had forgotten
all about yesterday being his birthday
but his wife had not been so remiss.
She had washed the three children,
dressed them in their neatest little
frocks, placed the best linen upon the
kitchen table, and set in the center
snowy kerosene lamp which shed
its light upon a birthday spread.
Little Mary. the latest of the three
Spadas, was seated on the kitchen
floor. contemplating with wonderment
the unwonted brilliancy Of the scene,
while her mother was preparing the
final touches for, the birthday spread.
The other children old enough to en-
ter into the spirit of the surprise, were
pressing their faces eagerly against
the window of the front door awaiting
the fathers home coming.
Little Mary snatched the edge OF
hn %oh 1ofh fr,~ to
lently. The kerosene lamp toppled
over on her. set her clothes in flames
and the mother snatched the child to
her breast. Clutching at the flames
with frantic haste, she extinguished
them, and was pressing her little darl-
ing to her breast when she discovered
that the flames had communicated
themselves to her.
She placed the child beyond reach
Of the still blazing oil in the kitchen
and rushed to the yard. A passing
teamster leaped off with blanket in
hand, wrapped it's heavy folds about
the woman and extinguished the
flames, but her flimsy garments had
afforded ready food for the hungry
flames. She was burned from head
to foot.
Mother and babe and the other chill
dren were carried into the home Of
Mrs. DomenicO Lattanza while the
automobile chemical, responding to an
alarm from Lakeview home, was
speeding to the scene. Carron oil
from the emergency kit of the chem
ical engine gave temporary relief to
Mrs. Spada's burns, but the plucky
little mother would not admit, until
forced to by the intense pain, that
she had been badly burned. She was
taken to the Bridgeport hospital in
the ambulance before ISpada. who
knew nothing Of the plans for his sur
prise reached home.
He hurried to the Bridgeport hospi-
tai and remained there throughout the
night until death ended the woman's
sufferings at o'clock this morning
Mrs. Spada was "a, a devout member
Of the Holy Rosary church of the
among the italian population Of the
city. The funeral will be held to-
afternoon.