The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1914-09-24
LOST HER LIFE IN PERU FIRE
Mrs Elmira Huggins Trapped in
Burning Building as ". J. Hap.
goods House was Destroyed.

Mrs. Elmira Huggins, s3, mother.
in-law II Marshall J. Hapgood of
Peru, independent candidate for gov
ernor Of Vermont, WAS burned 10
death IN a ere which totally destroyed
The Hapgod residence and all its con-
tents in Peru Wednesday night, begin
ming about 10 o'clock. Mrs. Hapgood
and adopted son, Philip, 10 years of
age, escaped In their night clothes.
Mr.. Hnpgood, who was al his store a
short distance away when the fire was
discovered, was badly burned about
the face and hands in his desperate
efforts TO save his wife's mother. The
house was filled with valuable old
furniture and priceless antinques, and
the loss will approximate $4,000. II
Ia understood there is some insurance.
Mrs Hapgood, her adopted son and
her mother had retired for the night,
and Mr.. Hapgood, who was in Brat
tleboro Wednesday but had returned
home, was in his store. Mrs. Hap
good was not asleep and was attracted
by bright light shining through
window Of her room. She investigat-
ed and found almost the entire story
Of the house wrapped in flames. She
awoke the boy and her mother and
she and Philip managed to make their
way down the front stairs through
the dense smoke and out Of doors, sup
posing that Mrs. Huggins was follow
ing them.
Others had discovered the fire by
that time and Mr.. Hapgood was called
from his store. He dashed into the
house and up stairs, but the flames
cut of his way to the room occupied
by Mrs. Huggins. He managed to
make his way out again with his hair
burned off and his face and hands
blistered Efforts to rescue her by
means Of the window were equally
fruitless by the time the effort could
be made, as the flames had communi-
Gated to the room she occupied.
Except for four chairs that were in
the front hall, not thing was saved
from the house, which was Mr.. Hap
goods birthplace and was an old man
sion that had been improved and mod
ernized by Mr.. Hapgood and had been
filled with valuable pieces Of old fur
niture, plate and china. Upon many
of these articles il is impossible to set
a price, but great number Of them
cannot be replaced at any price.
The fire is believed to have started
from a defective lamp in the kitchen,
but this is mere conjecture, The abb /
sence Of wind and the hard work Of
scores Of men who came in teams I
and automobiles to aid and kept the
nearby buildings wet down, prevented (
the fire spreading to other buildings.
Mrs. Higgins had been resident /
Of the West practically all her life and /
came from Denver several months ago .
for long visit with her daughter.
Mr. .Hapgood is one Of the best
known men in the state because Of his
activities in the suppression Of vice
and his participation in state politics.
A short time ago he announced his
candidacy for the governorship on an
independent ticket.
Besides his home property which
was destroyed by the fire, he owns
much other property in and about
Peru. including the Bromley House,
which was diagonally across the street
from his home and which Is widely /.
known because Of its outdoor fireplace.
He is the proprietor Of the store and
has many other interests.