Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1921-12-16
ATTEMPTS IN VAIN
TO SAVE OWN LIFE
Putney Woman Pours Water
Over Burning Clothing
Mrs. G. ii. Phillips Dies in Hospital
NeighbOrs Prevent Fire from Burning
House and Consuming Body.


Burns received in her home Saturday
afternoon by Mrs. Helen NJ. (Barrus)
Phillips. 50, of Putney, widow of George
O'Clock that night in the Brattleboro
Memorial hospital, to which institution
Mrs. Phillips was brought as soon as pos
sible after her injuries. The prompt ac-
ton of neghbors probably prevented the
flames from burning the house and con
Stunning the unfortunate woman. Mrs.
Phillips was an aunt of Mrs. Fred B.
Pier of Brattleboro.
The so-called Phillips house is situated
on the road to Westminster West. short
distance from PutnCy village. 1t is owned
by Oscar j. Ranney, but when Mrs. Phil
lips sold it she reserved rooms for her own
occupancy and lived alone.
On Saturday afternoon Mrs. phllipss
clothing took fire, probably from her
stove, and it is assumed that she was fix
ing the fire at the time. There were indi-
cations also that she attempted to cxtin-
guish the flames with water, as water
was found about the floor
She rushed to the front door and called
for help and then went to heb couch and
covered herself with couch cover. an
parently in an effort to smother the fire,
and was on the couch when help arrived.
flrs Harry Amidon, who lives two doors
y
home and saw indications of a fire in
the Phillips home. She told her husband,
who was in his shop, and he ran to the
Phillips house. Quincy i. Ncwc0mb.
who lives across the street saw smoke
issuing from the front doorway and has
toned to- give assistance as did Frank
Howard, who with his brother, Ben
Howard was driving past in an automo
bile. Mr.. Ranney was away chopping.
bn ha
covering over Mrs. Phillips was on fire
and when it was removed it was found
that all of Mrs. Phillips's clothing had
been burned off except skirt bindings and
her high ovcrshoes.
Ben Howard made a quick trip to the
village after DR.. l.. ii. Bugbee, who had
Mrs. Phillips wrapped in blankets and
and taken to the hospital. The upper
part of her body especially was horribly
burned. She was attended here by
DIR. Harry T. Greene.
Mrs. Phillips was born in Winhall
Oct. II, 1886, daughter of Holman and
Lucretia (Whipple) Barrus, who came
from New Hampshire. Her home was in
Winhall until she married, although she
worked in other places much of the time.
At one time she was employed as n wait
ress in one of the Brattleboro hotels She
also worked in Cambridge, Mass.
On Nov. %, 1864, she married George
ii. Phillips. a native of Athol, Mass, who
Phillips had come home the previous
year, 1863, from the war, where he served
in Company G, 18th Vermont Volunteers.
and obtained employment as superintend-
cnt of the DIR. Jackson stock farm in
Winhall. After serving in that capacity
three years Mr.. Phillips and his wife
moved to West Townshend. where they
bOnUDt fD mi baro
until 1870, when they moved to Putney.
Mr.. Phillips carried on the live stock
business in Putney until his death. which
occurred suddenly of heart disease while
his wife was ministering to him Jan. II.
1904. He bought cattle throughout
southern Vermont and New Hampshire
and in Massachusetts, sending weekly
shipments from Putney or Brattieboro to
the Brighton market. He also shipped
fatted steers to England. He was asso-
ciated with j. L. Henry of Watertown,
Mass. lie was a representative to the
legislature in 1898 and was one of Put
ney'S heaviest taxpayers.
Mrs. Phillips was devoted to her home
and lived a consistent Christian life. She
took an active interest in her husbands
success in the live stock business, and in
these days her home often was the stop
ping place of drovers who had dealings
with Mr. Phillips and they were recp-
tents of bountiful entertainment. Mrs.
Phillips had been member for many
years of the Methodist church in Bond
vile.
She leaves brother, Moses /. Barrus
of Hannibal, n. y. a niece in Brattle-
boro, niece in Worcester, Mass, and
two nephews in Hannibal.
The body was taken to Putney and the |
funeral was held in the Community |
church at . O'Clock, Rev. c. ii. Moor !
house officiating. The burial took place |
beside the body of Mr.. Phillips in Mount
cemetery.