The Glenwood post., 1916-12-30
Christmas Dissipation Inter-
feres With Rescue Of Two Lads
Left Alone in House
THE BEREAvED MOTHER FRANTIC

In describing the burning to death
of two Aspen boys the Times Democrat
does not hesitate to charge the awful
tragedy to booze and the habit of the
foreign element in that town of indurg-
ing in holiday debauchery. The Times
description is as follows:
Joe Costello, aged IL years, and Law
renee, 10, were burned to death last
night in fire which consumed tn eir
aonc at 901 East Hyman avenue.
For the past week and in cele5.a5ion
Of tne Christmas season, it is alleged
that the Austrian and Italian settle
ment in the east end of town have beeu
having one glorious time and booze, it
is said, has been as free as water. Be-
ing of the bootleg quality this booze.
it seems has caused much drunkenness
and in some cases delireum tremens IN
its first stages of belief in fighting and
desire to murder.
Al least it was stated last night by
several thav JoEa 81 BSfgsGaS5, ,.l,si
upon several occasions threatened the
life of his wife and baby and it re-
quired the interference of some of the
neighbors to prevent him carrying out
his oft-repeated threat. Mrs. Costello
states that she and Mrs. Bergeno were
spending the early evening at the home
of Mr.. and Mrs. Joe Borstner.
Returning to her home about II
clock last night Mrs. Costello states
that she put her boys to bed and, after
blowing out the candle, went to thu
Bergeno home. In few minutes Mrs
Bergeno heard shouting outside and her
husband was about to 90 to the door
to see what it was about. He did not
20, however, after Mrs. Costello eau
toned him he might get into trouble
Sitting there talking the Bergenos and
Mrs. Costello noticed that the shoutirg
instead of decreasing, grew in volume,
and stepping to the door Bergeno locke |
out and exclaimed:
"My God, the whole hill is burning Q
up
Rushing out Mrs Costello at once
discovered it was her home that was in
Flames. She ran to the burning house,
screaming my God, my boys are
burning up.'' But none of the by
| ISLANDERS seemed to realize it was nee
essary to get them out until too late
and the poor mother was prevented by
the roaring, cracking flames.
| About this time, 1915 this morning,
the alarm was turned in and in few
moments the fire department was on
the ground, but it was too late to save
the Costello home and the Costello boys.
The roar of the flames continued,
frequently interrupted by the screams
Of the frantic mother, until the last
vestige of a once happy home was in
ashes, when the firemen, headed by
Chief A. w. Frost, started the search
through the ruins and ashes for tie
bodies of the Costello boys.
Their bodies, burned to crisp were
found lying side by side near the kitch-
en- door to where they had struggled
from their bed in an attempt to save
the enselves. The lads had stuck to,
g"ther in their heroic fight through the
sm-ke and flames and passed to their
heavenly home with clasped hands.
Two ytnng bays burned to death, and
for what!
Boozei
Is the death of these boys due to ihe
fact that those first on the scene were
too dazed. by the fumes Of rotgut
whisky to realize that immediate action
was necessary to save. the lives Of Joe
and Lawrence Costellof
We're these first arrivals too drunk
from the effects of debauch to know
and realize there WAS firei
Were these first arrivals too full Of
booze to know they were alive and that
two boys were being roasted to death