The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-08-08
Home Gone
Fam mily Is
Destitute
Neighbors Gather Up Kid
dies, Dad and Mother;
Make Appeal for Aid
Cash NEEDED AT ONCE

Mr. ana Mrs. A. I. Pickering
and their three small children are
destitute. They need baby clothes.
They need food They need cash.
Now--immcdiately--todayi
Burned out four days ago. all
their worldly Possessions lost, they
are being cared for temporarily In
the homes OF neighbors.
Clad In garments draxxcd from
dlnEy attics and old clothea haxr.
without money and with no steady
work for the father To he hal. fhla
was blue Monday for the Pickerinrn.
Last Thursday night the Picker.
tngs we're more than usually happy
The children were IN bed. Celia. is:
Archie. 10. and James. :. were
dreaming 3oyfuliy Of the morrow.
when daddy intended 10 soil the
house and they could all go TO the
country. whore Sir. Pickering. they
hoped. would get well again.
Nov, mother. don't you stay up
too late" Pickering had tendrriy ad
monishsd his wife as he prepared TO
retire.
Il won't" she replied: hut want
to look around once more and SEQ
that everything is all right. Things
must be spick and span when tte
man comes 10 close the deal tomor.
row.
Pickering went to bed.
Mrs Pickering took an oiled rag
and carefully put few finishing
touches on the woodwork that she
had scrubbed hard that day. Tired
and worn out. and none too well at
best she sat down at the dining
room table for few moments.
Fire, It's at the Pickerinrsr'
Mrs. T.. NJ. Record. 1887 5sth ave.
s.. caught the cry from her children
and rushed out into the night air 10
sound the alarm.
IL was 1880 a m.
AZ the same moment Mrs. Picker
She looked up from tile dining room
table. where she had fallen asleep.
and saw the curtains on fire. She
pulled them down and tried 10 stamp
them out. but failed. and turned To
the room where the children slept
II want TO sle.e.cpi Let me Eo
hack the boys cried. But the
mother got them and their sister.
whose nlKhtdress was scorched. out
into the street
Pickering leapcd from. bed. and
seeing the children safe, managed
to pull a trunk out Of the house
Nclghbors gathered and the fire
truck came. But the water wns on
only half force and the hose did little
good.
Suddenly Mrs. Pickering shrieked
and ran into the blazing house.
'Winnifredi BabyF' she screamed.
And little Winnie. year.oid baby OF
Mrs. Pickcring's sister. Mrs. Tim
othy Connoiy. Of the Strathmore
apartments. was hauled from n fiery
death in the nick of'timc. She had
been completely forgotten in the ex.
element. Mrs. Pickering was keep
ing the baby for week.
The home burned 10 the ground
Toodles. the family dog. locked in the
basement. burned with H.
Nothing was saved Of any value.
The day before Pickering had caahcd
"A check for f137. receiving mostly
currency. This was consumed In
the flames. Next day the children
found a few pieces OF silver. that
was all.
Mr.. and Mrs. Pickering we're taken
TO the home Of Charles Olson. 9637
5fth ave. s.. The children were taken
by other neighbors. who furnished
them with some clothing and the
bare neccEsaries OF life.
But they are pennlless. Neighbors
cannot keep them indefinitely.
what they need right now f.
cash" Olson said Monday. The
mother is sick ana must have rest
and fresh air II she ~ 10 get well
They can make n II they can get
enough cash 10 tide them over for
the next few weeks. And here is
81 bill 10 start a."
SO The Star Is calling on the pco-
pie Of Seattle today for donations
for the Pickering family 10 put them
on their feet again.
Address the Destitute Editor, The
Star, and he will do tie rest