Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-01-05
CHILD BURNED TO
DEATH;FAM|LY|N IN
P|T|ABLE PLIGHT
Tot, Cold, Got Too Close to
Stove-Neighbors Respond
to Call for Aid.

Her little body burned almost TO a
crisp. Myrtle Becker, Ave years old.
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs, Ellsworth
Becker. of S5 Lennox avenue. Irving
ton, died last night in GLADDEN. Lodge
Hospital. Irvington. In the death
the child is revealed r pitifui story
of destitution assd xalt in the home
where she was the one bright spot
amid poverty-stricken surroundings.
Neighbors are today quickly respond
ing to an urgent call for aid for the
family.
Little Myrtle was left at home with
her three brothers and sisters yester-
day afternoon while her mother went
out to get something for the evening
meal The kitchen in which the fam
lily lived was frightfully cold. The
youngsters huddled about the old
stove IN vain attempts to keep warm.
Suddenly spark flew out and Myrtle
was enveloped in flames. Her thin
cotton dress blazed up about her.
An older brother snatched piece
of carpet from the floor and wrapped
1t around her after the girl had run
screaming to an old couch. The lat
y
amid the flames.
The blaze was seen by neighbors
and while one ran to send in a fire
alarm another rushed into the house,
tore off a sweater she wore, wrapped
It around the blazing figure and ran
outdoors just as the firemen arrived.
The mother had also returned and
without noticing the bundle held by
her neighbor she rushed in to save
her babies. Little Myrtle was handed
over to Fireman joseph Kohler, who
jumped into an automobile owned by
George Folsom, son of Edward r.
Folsom, and drove to GLADDEN. Lodge
Hospital.
The shoes and parts OF the clothing
Of the girl were still burning when
they arrived. The hospital staff saw
there was no hope of saving her life
and devoted their efforts at easing
the terrible pain of the still conscious
child. She d ed an hour later.
Ignorant of the extent of the girls
injuries, the mother told the story to
the father, Ellsworth Becker, when
he came home for supper. Taking a
few clothes he went to the hospital
to bring his daughter home and was
met with the story of her death
few minutes before. The father was
distracted over Ln0 Tragedy, as the
little girl was his favorite child. He
was i'll throughout the night calling
for his daughter.
Mr.. Folsom went to the home last
night and found a pitiful condition.
The father has had but little work
and there was no food in the house
nor money with which to buy 1t.
Four little children were still trying
to keep warm around the stove,
though there was nothing to make
fire. The youngsters had pieces Of
carpet wrapped about them to keep
out the cold.
The father and mother were dazed
by the tragedy which had deprived
them of their bright little girl. They
said that only one of the children
had been able to go to school because
the others had nothing to wear.
There was little or no furniture in
the house.
Today friends In the neighborhood
responded to call for help and Mrs
Folsom is directing relief measures.
Clothing is being obtained food pro-
vided and arrangements for Myrtles
funeral are being made. The BODY
was viewed at the hospital this
morning by County Physician Dr.
William H. Mckenzie, who granted
burial permit.