Evening star., 1925-01-25
FUND IS STARTED
FOR FIRE ORPHANS
Five Who Saw Father,
Mother and Home Lost in
Blaze Get Aid.

Five children made homeless or
phans by one raEfc stroke of fate
yesterday when fire wiped out their
little home at Wheaton. Md, and
burned their parents, John and Cora
Russell, 40 and II years old respectively,
the generosity OF 'neighbors in Mont
gomery County.
They represent all that is left of
happy little home. Friday night they
went TO sleep in a neat little bunga-
low. which their father. a plumbers
helper, provided for them.
OIL stove ExpIodes.
Early yesterday morning the father
and mother awoke. Both went to the
kitchen to prepare breakfast. There
was an explosion. flames, and the
house started on the road TO blazing
destruction. Charlie, II years old
the eldest boy, tried vainly to move
the PROSTATE form of his father from
the kitchen where he had fallen un-
conscious. He was stopped by the
fire, which ignited his hair. Then
he aided the rest OF the youngsters
in their escape from the burning
building.
A tragic tableau was set on the
roadside in the graying dawn yester-
day morning. Five shivering young
sters, wearing absolutely everything
they owned, standing almost within
range of the heat of the burning
structure, watched fire wipe out
everything that stood for happiness
in their lives-father, mother and
home.
Collection Started.
But the structure was scarcely cold
yesterday. when collection was
started by the farmers of Montgom-
cry County. Today will find sub
scriptfon parties making the rounds.
There will be some sort OF an or
ganization and plan mapped out as
soon as possible. And the dubious
future awaiting the youngsters will
be made a. bit easier to bear by the
knowledge that misfortune may find
friends, and friends, though unk nown
before, may find dollars to help light
en- the darkened days for the un-
fortunate.
The bodies OF John Russell and his
wife, Cora, charred beyond recogni
tion are at the undertaking establish
ment OF Pumphrey and Son in Rock
VILE. The funeral will be held to-
morrow or Tuesday.
The story OF the fire is told by
Charlie, IT years old, who was sleep
ing with his two brothers, Willie, 13,
and Eugene, IL; and his two sisters,
Lillian, IS, and Baby Dorothy, 4,
when the explosion which started the
fire occurred.
Oldest Boys story.
willie woke me up" says Charlie.
IT smelled the smoke and ran down
stairs. The kitchen was all burning
~
that L came IN. ] just tried to pull
him out, but the fire was getting to
me. 1t slzzled my hair and started to
burn and I had to put 1t out and then
WE'LL couldn't get back in. SO ]
got the rest OF us out of there and we
ran to the road and yelled for help.
And we looked on as the house burned
down"
The children stayed last night with
relatives of their mother, at the
homes of Harvey and Arthur Burriss,
brothers of Mrs. Russell, at Rockville,
and Mrs. Lena Brown, sister OF Mrs.
Russell In Takoma Park, Nd.
Mrs. Russell is survived by FIVE sis
ters and six brothers-Harvey Bur-
riss. Mrs. Susie Klink of SAT 18th
street southeast; Mrs. Frances Bur
rfss of Greensburg, Pa; Arthur Bur-
riss of Rockville, Md: William Bur-
iisS VI 1i1o WsHly -SeCOHO slTeCl
northwest; Mrs. j. F. Alderton of
Ednor, Md; Mrs. Lena Brown of Ia
koma Park, Nd; Mrs. Nellie Burriss
of Westmore. Md; Edwin w. Burriss,
Roger B. Burriss and Clarence r.
Burriss, all OF Olney, Nd, and her
parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas H. Bur-
riss of Olney, Md.
Mr.. Russell is survived only by a
brother, Charles, of Brooklyn, n. Y.