Arizona republican., 1913-01-21
We'll Known Civil Engineer Meets Frightful Death in Two-ROOm Frame Struc- ture on South Ninth Avenue
BURNED ALMOST
 TO A CRISP.
Cause of Fire is Unknown But is Supposed to Have Lighted Lamp Which Exploded or Was Smok- ing When He Retired

George C. Clark, aged about fifty years, and one of the best known civil engineers in Central Arizona, met death by cremation about 10:30 o'clock last evening in a fire which destroyed the two-room frame house he had been oc- cupying alone at no South Ninth aven- ue. Not until the fire department had been enabled to extinguish the smould- ering emberS, which was all that re- mained of the structure when the fire was finally controlled was his charred body found in the ruins. So complete had been the work of the flames. 1t would have been impossible to have identified the body as that of Clark had it not been that he was known to oc- cupy the structure and had been seen to enter the house an hour before the discovery of the fire.
 Clark, who was separated from his wife and three daughters, had been liv- ing alone in the house for several months He was seen to come home last evening about nine o'clock, and the people residing in that section say that he was in a state of almost com-
 
 the front room and later was heard muttering loudly to himself. Later he became quiet A little more than one
 hour after he had entered the building. flames were seen issuing from the roof and from every door and window, An alarm was telephoned to the fire department and Box 37 was sounded. The department made one of the quick est runs on record, the course being straight away without a turn until the nearest hydrant was reached. Arriv- ing at the house, is was found that the structure was completely enwrapped in flames and the attention of the fire- men was given over largely to protect ing adjacent buildings.
 As the fire progressed the word | went round that Clark was in the house. AS the flames began to recede before the flood of water; the firemen and a Republican reporter made their | may into the front room. In doing so | they stumbled over an obstruction near | the front door. A flashlight was | brought into use and after lifting part l of a burned door it was discovered that | the body or clark was lying in a posi- | t1On which indicated that ne may nave made an effort to reach the front door af'er the flames had reached the bed upon which he was probably lying. His 1 body was completely charred, portions | of it being completely consumed. The | fallen door, protected his head and 1 chest just enough to prevent every l semblance of a human being, being ob- | liberated.
 | The remains were left in the position ! in which they were found and Coroner 1 C. W. Johnstone summoned. He em- panelled a jury which viewed the re- l mains, which were afterwards removed | to an undertaking establishment. and l the inquest adjourned until today. Clark had been living in the house
 which was owned by Mrs. c. S. Blaine. for several months. His wife is said
 to be living in Bisbee and has three
 daughters are living with friends in this city. There is no explanation for
 the fire. although there is a belief that
 Clark attempted to light a lamp and
 that it either exploded or that he was
 smoking when he fell across his bed
 and that the mattress took fire.