Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-06-24
JOSEPH P. MASON AND
. FAMILY DRIVEN FROM
HOME BY NIGHT FIRE
Aroused From Sleep to Find the
Building Filled With Thick
Smoke.
CROPPED THEIR WAY OUT

Joseph +. Mason, his wife and their
two sons. Harold. aged % years and
Hoyt. Il, narrowly escaped suffoca-
ton at o'clock this morning. when
fire broke out in closet in middle
room on the second floor of their home
at SIC Vandever avenue. Hoyt had
TO be dragged in an almost uncon-
scious condition from the house by
his brother, Harold. and Mrs. Mason
tainted after she had been assisted
10 the street by her husband. She
became hysterical when revived and
had to be restrained from rushing
back into the building. She is under
n physicians care today as a result
of her experience, the fright having
seriously affected her heart.
Harold and Hoyt were asleep in the
front room while Mr.. and Mrs. Mason
We're sleeping in the rear room, when
Harold was aroused by a choking SEN
sation and sat up in bed to find the
room filled with dense smoke. lie call
ed to Hoyt but failed to arouse him
and had TO drag the younger boy from
the bed. There is something burn
ing, get up he yelled TO his mother.
Mrs. Mason awoke to find her room
filling with the smoke also and then
she aroused her husband.
In the meantime Harold was trying
to get Hoyt out of the house. lie
started along the hallway to the
stairs, but found the place SO filled
with smoke that he could scarcely
breathe. He started &c open the door
r., - an r.,
raging, but a flash of flame caused
him to hastily close il and this act
undoubtedly saved the lives of his
parents, for the fire would have cut
off their escape by means of the stair
way Harold finally reached the front
porch with Hoyt and the latter was
quickly revived when he got into the
fresh air.
Mason in the meantime had helped
his wife TO the street and then started
TO look for a fire box. His cries had
aroused the neighborhood and intense
excitement prevailed when il was
learned a fire was in progress in one
of the long row of houses. Mason
finally located box No. ia. at Wand
ever avenue and Thatcher street. and
sent in an alarm. The firemen We're
on the scene in a few minutes and
their very quick and effective work
prevented the flames from communi-
eating to any of the adjoining prop
critics
Mrs. Mason had been carried into
the home of William Baker, at S14
vandever avenue. In her hysterical
condition she had attempted to rush
back into her own home. but her hus-
hand prevented this. A physician was
called and gave her treatment after
he found her suffering from a serious
heart attack. Mason and his son
Hoyt ran into the house to recover
some bank books and valuable papers
and both of them were affected by
/ the smoke. They had TO assist each
other in their efforts TO regain the
street
! The fire started in a closet, but the
cause is q mystery. The family had
/ in the closet. but Mason said today
there was nothing there that could
/ have caused the blaze. There are nc
/ electric wires in the house and the
gas jet in the room had not been used
I for some time. The room was unoc-
cupied and the Masons are at a loss
accounts for the origin of the fire.
/ Mason cfNns the house. He said
/ today his loss will amount to at leas;
/ 81 900, aich is covered by insurance
/ He gave great praise to the firemen
for their good work. especially the
members Of the Brandywine company
who were soon on the scene after the
sounding of the alarm and whose
! efforts resulted in confining the fire
| TO the room where il originated.