Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-02-22
z DECATUR GIRLS
PERISH IN FLAMES
DESTROYING HOME
Editor McDoweIFs Dangh-
tiers Meet Tragic Death.
Wife and Son Escape,
Father Is Injured

were the two theories held We'd
nesday in the tragedy which claimed
the lives Of Marian and Williamatee
seventeen and fifteen
daughters of Mr.. and Mrs.
John Mcdowell, in the fire which de-
stroyed the Mcdowell home at 123
Ponce de Leon avenue. in Decatur,
shortly after 1 o'clock Tuesday morn.
ing.
Dimple Nix. a discharged negro
and her husband are held
for questioning.
The bodies of the two girls, char
red almost beyong recognition, were
taken to the undertaking parlors of
A. S. Turner, in Decatur, and were
to be sent late Tuesday afternoon to
the girls childhood home,
for funeral and interment. after. fu.
neral services at the Decatur Bap-
fist church at o'clock.
The parents of the girls were un-
QSI pl1O oAClclIlS OolIS uCSOcly 1llOI II
ing at the home of p. c. Carnes,
brother-in-law of Mr.. Mcdowell, of
GAS Ponce de Leon avenue. In try
ing to rescue his daughters, Mr.. Nc
Dowell's feet We're badly blistered.
while the mother was overcome by
the smoke and shock and had to be
carried from the house.
Mrs. Mcdowell Tells of Horror
81 was lying in bed only half
asleep, dozing," said Mrs. Mcdowell
from a divan in the living room of
the Carnes home on Ponce de Leon
avenue, where she was taken shorts
ly after the tragedy.
Suddenly, there was a tremendous
crash. The roof had fallen in.
But didn't know then. scream
ed to my husband, who had already
jumped out of bed, and was running
into the hall in his bare feet. He
cried that the house was on fire, and
that it seemed to be centered in the
girls room.
II went into the hall, where my
husband and Frank were trying to
open the door to the girls room. But
it had jammed somehow. The flames
grew hotter and hotter. Then some
one came and carried me out into
the yard. He rushed back in and
tried to open the door, but the whole
building was burning. In a few
minutes, he came out again, support
ing Mr.. Mcdowell, whose feet were
so badly burned he could hardly
stand.
1--WE never heard a sound from
their room. After the roof fell, every
thing was quiet except for the crack
ing Of the flames"
Frank Mcdowell, 1S-year-old son,
escaped without injury. Practically
all the household effects of the fam
lily were destroyed, the flames gain
ing such Roadway before being dis
covered that Mr.. and Mrs. Mcdowell
and their son were forced to flee in
their night clothes.
NeighbOrs Discover Blaze
1t was stated Tuesday that there
was no fire Monday night in the
CRATE of the room occupied by the
two girls. which adjoined that of
their parents. There was one
doorway, leading into the hall
and another doorway leading into a
living room in the front portion of
the house. Frank McDowelrs room
was in the front part of the house,
while the bedrooms of his parents
and sisters were in the rear.
The fire was discovered about 1:15
o'clock Tuesday morning by several
who heard the cracking
of the flames and the noise made by
the window panes exploding in the
intense heat.
Two Of the neighbors, Erwin Trot-
ii, who lives at 534 Church street,
and w. H. McWhorter, who lives at
Ala Church street, rushed into the
burning dwelling in the effort to
awaken members of the family.
IT had just gotten off the street
car when I saw flames bursting
from the windows in the rear of the
house." Mr.. Trotti said Tuesday. II
called to another man who was
alighting from the car and we ran
toward the house. AS reached the
porch, Mrs. Mcdowell rushed out
and cried to me to save her daugh-
-ers, pointing toward room located
IN the rear of the house.
IT went first into a front room
and tried the door leading into the
girls room. 1t was locked and I
tried to smash it-first by throwing
myself against it and then by break
ing chairs against it. But it was
too strong.
Rescue Attempt Fails
IT went into the hall which opened
INTO the girls room. There were
some heavy portieres hanging there
and I tore them down to wrap about
my head. The smoke was so thick
{ could hardly see. When I got into
he girls room, it resembled a lake
IF oil with flames playing about all
over the floor. It seems that the fire
originated there. saw one of the
girls lying against the door leading
INTO her mothers room. I tried to
pick her up but just at that time
he whole room seemed to break into
lanes and l had to leave. The girl
seemed too badly burned at that
line to live
Mr.. Mcdowell said he was
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