The Mena weekly star., 1913-04-24
FIRE TAXES NEARLY
 A WHOLE FAMILY
Mrs. E. J. Smith of New Boston, Tex. Was in DeQueen Visiting Mother When She Heard
 of Family'S Fate.

New Boston, Tex, April 1.-Two are dead and two more are expected fo die as a result of the fire which carly this morning destroyed the home of E. J. Smith here.
 The dead:
 E. J. Smith, aged about 40 years, Chip" Smith, aged 3 years.
 Expected to die:
 Baby son of Mr. Smith, aged nine Aged woman housekeeper, name not known. The tragedy is perhaps the worst Inf ifs kind that has ever happened in tbis section. The fire was dis covered about 5:30 o'clock this morning. when the flames had eX- tended to all parts of the house Mrs. Smith was on visit to rela- lives at DeOueen, Ark, but will ar rive here this afternoon, having heon telegraphed the terrible news
 During the absence of Mrs. Smith an aged white woman has been staving at the house as housekeep- or. When the fire was discovered Mir. Smith hastily carried Chip, his daughter, to safety. He return ed to the house after the others, and the girl followed him, being in- cinerated.
 The baby and the housekeeper were removed from the house though terribly burned, and then inc absence of Chip" was discov- cred. Mr. Smith himself was ter riblv burned. He died about 1 o'clock this afternoon, after ar rangements had been made to take him to Texarkana for treatment.
 The baby is under treatment here The housekeeper was taken to the county poor farm, where she is being treated Late this afternoon the attending physicians expressed the opinion that it is impossible to prophecy the recovery of either.
 Mrs. Smith is a daughter of Mrs s. F. Gravel of DeQueen, and both lef, this afternoon for New Boston
 New Boston, Tex, April IT, Sheriff Jim Baker, at DeKalb, ar rested Burt Watt, a white man aged about 2i years, and is holding him in custody pending the con clusion of an investigation being made by the sheriff into the fire at the home of F. J. Smith here yes tcrday, when Smith and his baby daughter lost their lives.
 |. was stated in the dispatches sent out yesterday about the fire, that Mrs. Smith was visiting her mother at DeQueen, Ark, and that she would return last evening. She did return. accompanied by her mother and Watt, and the entire party registered at hotel here, the women stating that Watt was a bother of MIs. Smith.
 Deputy Sheriff McDullie, how ever, happened to call at the hotel and he recognized Watt as a man whom he knew last year when both were in the vicinity of Red river Deputy sheriff McDuflie immediate ly announced that Watt was not a brother of Mrs. Smith, and con- siderable feeling was aroused be- cause of the action of the man and the women.
 During last night Watt obtained a rig and drove to DeKalb. This morning Sheriff Baker took up the matter and arrested Watt.
 How the fire started is still a mystery, but it is stated that a can of oil was in a closet and exploded, causing a rapid spread of the flames.
 Physicians attending the baby, which is terribly burned, announced today that there is little hope for the child to recover It was seized with convulsions this morning
 The aged woman hOusekeeper 1t Is announced. is barely alive, and may pass away at any moment
 The funeral of Mir. Smith and his daughter was held this afternoon. Later in the evening there will be an investigation into the matter, conducted by a justice of the peace, and 1t is reported that further ar rests are likely to be made before night in connection with the case.