Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-12-15
STURTEvANT'S
BODY FOUND
IN HOME RUIN
One of Waterville's Old.
est Citizens Burned to
Death in Early Morn
ing Fire Tuesday

Waterville, Me, Dec 14.-(SpeciaD.-
William H. Sturtevant. one of Water
ville's oldest citizens, was burned TO
death in a fire which destroyed his home
Tuesday morning. The flames were first
discovered by George Wheeler, who lives
about one-half mile from the place. and
they were breaking through the roof OF
the house at that time. Other neighbors
were notified and they reached the scene
as quickly as possible. but when the ar
rived the walls of the house were falling
in and it was not until late in the morn
ing that il was possible to tell whether
the old man had been burned TO death
or not
Charred Body Found
When daylight finally appeared and the
fire had burned itself out, what remained
of the body was found in the cellar,
practically all OF the body being consum-
ed except some small portions of the
trunk Mr. Sturtevant had been living
alone for some time and there is no way
TO tell how the fire started or just when,
whether he was smothered to death or
died trying TO get out of the building.
He was a visitor 10 the city Monday, 60
ing home late in the afternoon, and that
was the last seen Of him. The remains
of his body lay near the cook stove in
the cellar and il was thought by those
people who were familiar with his habits
that he probably built up brisk fire in
the stove and then laid down on a couch
in the kitchen and went TO sleep. The
fire in the stove became hot enough to
ignite the woodwork and that he was
burned to death Rffhout ever awaken
ing At first it was thought that there
might be another body IN the runs, as
he has been employing housekeepef'
Miss Grace Vaughn, but she left some
few days ago and was at the home OF
her parents in this city.
Completely Destroyed
The house was completely consumed,
even the stills being burned, and the high
wind of the night evidently finished the
chimney, for that was blown down from
about on a line with the ;rst story. The
house was a small two-story frame struc-
ture and was old and dry and after II
started burned with great rapidity. The
fire burned the building UP completely,
not even the sills being left, and there
was hardly a single piece of wood left
about the place.
In the morning Redington & Co. were
notified and they in turn notified the
marshals Office and Headquarters Man
Sturtevant visited the scene and Ques-
toned the people about there. but he was
unable to do anything at that time as
Medical Examiner Fish was in Augusta
and il was impossible TO move the re
mains or make a search of the premises
until he had been there DR.. Fish re-
turned at noon and Immediately went to
the scene and ordered the remains re-
moved to the undertaking rooms Of Red
ington & Co. He deemed an inquest I'M
necessary as there was absolutely no evf-
dence of foul play
Mr.. Sturtevant is survived by several
brothers, three daughters, Mrs. Edgar
johnson of Pittsfeld. a daughter in
Massachusetts and one in Hallowell,
Miss Satoris.
Mrs. johnson was notified by telephone
of her fathers death but no word had
been received from her up TO late Tues
day evening A nephew. Arthur Sturte-
want, made arrangements for the funeral
to be held at his home on Western ave-
nue. at O'Clock wednesday afternoon.