Hartington Herald and Cedar County Leader, Friday, October 21, 1904, p1
FATAL FIRE TUESDAY
On Tuesday our community was horror stricken by one of the most terrible calamities that has ever befallen it.
Between one and two o'clock p.m. F. W. Barnhart, our postmaster, kissed his babies goodbye and happy in the possession of a happy home and three sweet children to brighten it, he walked down to his office little dreaming of coming disaster. On his arrival there Mrs. Barnhart, who has been in the habit of helping with the distribution of the noon mail, donned her wraps and was about to start for home when the telephone rang. She stepped to the receiver and the message it brought was that her home was on fire. Mr. and Mrs. Barnhart and many citizens rushed to their home to find smoke pouring out through windows, doors and roof.
The first agonizing thought was for the children and the hired girl. The latter lay prone on the ground a few feet from the kitchen door almost an unrecognizable mass of burning flesh and clothing. Mr. Barnhart, almost beside himself, rushed into the burning building and brought out his four year old daughter Hazel. Her clothes were on fire and she was horribly burned on the limbs and body. He handed her over to friends and rushed back and came out almost overcome from the smoke and kerosene fumes with the dead body of his two year old baby, Doris. In the meantime Hazel was taken across the street to the T. B. A. Watson home and willing hands carried the young woman, Miss Bertha Felber, on a mattress to the same place. In a few moments doctors arrived and the Watson home was turned into a hospital and every thing that could be done to relieve the sufferers was done.
The charred body of little Doris was taken to the J. P. Jenal home and there laid out for the burial.
Mrs. Barnhart was stunned by her awful grief and she is now prostrated and in a serious condition.
The poor victims of the accident, little Hazel and Miss Felber, died during the evening.
Miss Felber told her attendants that after Mr. Barnhart left the house she took up the kerosene can and poured some of the treacherous fluid into the range to start up the fire. There was a terrible explosion and she was covered with flames and kerosene. The children playing near were also enveloped with the terrible result already given. The building and furnishings we understand were damaged about $1000.
The funeral service over two little bodies was held from the Presbyterian church at ten o'clock Wednesday afternoon. Revs. F. M. Druliner, C. W. Sidebotham and D. M. McIntosh officiated. The little bodies were laid away in the Hartington cemetery north of town. Considering the extremely inclement weather a large number of our people attended the services. The sympathy of the people of our community for the stricken family is too deep to be expressed in words and their grief is profound and sincere.
The funeral of Miss Bertha Felber was held from Holy Trinity church at four o'clock Wednesday afternoon, Rev. Fr. Glauber officiating and the remains were interred in the Catholic cemetery. Thursday morning mass was celebrated for the repose of her soul.
Miss Felber was twenty-two years and six months of age and was highly esteemed by her friends and associates. The bereaved family has the sincere sympathy of all.
As a mark of respect all the business houses were closed while the funerals were held.
We should not be harsh in our judgment of the poor victim of a terrible mistake. It is all too common a practice to use kerosene to kindle a fire. She deeply deplored the fatal mistake, alas too late for herself and the little innocents under her charge, but let it be a terrible warning to the people here and everywhere not to run such a frightful risk. This calamity has gone deep into the hearts of this community and it will take a long time for its somber effects to wear away.
FATAL FIRE TUESDAY
On Tuesday our community was horror stricken by one of the most terrible calamities that has ever befallen it.
Between one and two o'clock p.m. F. W. Barnhart, our postmaster, kissed his babies goodbye and happy in the possession of a happy home and three sweet children to brighten it, he walked down to his office little dreaming of coming disaster. On his arrival there Mrs. Barnhart, who has been in the habit of helping with the distribution of the noon mail, donned her wraps and was about to start for home when the telephone rang. She stepped to the receiver and the message it brought was that her home was on fire. Mr. and Mrs. Barnhart and many citizens rushed to their home to find smoke pouring out through windows, doors and roof.
The first agonizing thought was for the children and the hired girl. The latter lay prone on the ground a few feet from the kitchen door almost an unrecognizable mass of burning flesh and clothing. Mr. Barnhart, almost beside himself, rushed into the burning building and brought out his four year old daughter Hazel. Her clothes were on fire and she was horribly burned on the limbs and body. He handed her over to friends and rushed back and came out almost overcome from the smoke and kerosene fumes with the dead body of his two year old baby, Doris. In the meantime Hazel was taken across the street to the T. B. A. Watson home and willing hands carried the young woman, Miss Bertha Felber, on a mattress to the same place. In a few moments doctors arrived and the Watson home was turned into a hospital and every thing that could be done to relieve the sufferers was done.
The charred body of little Doris was taken to the J. P. Jenal home and there laid out for the burial.
Mrs. Barnhart was stunned by her awful grief and she is now prostrated and in a serious condition.
The poor victims of the accident, little Hazel and Miss Felber, died during the evening.
Miss Felber told her attendants that after Mr. Barnhart left the house she took up the kerosene can and poured some of the treacherous fluid into the range to start up the fire. There was a terrible explosion and she was covered with flames and kerosene. The children playing near were also enveloped with the terrible result already given. The building and furnishings we understand were damaged about $1000.
The funeral service over two little bodies was held from the Presbyterian church at ten o'clock Wednesday afternoon. Revs. F. M. Druliner, C. W. Sidebotham and D. M. McIntosh officiated. The little bodies were laid away in the Hartington cemetery north of town. Considering the extremely inclement weather a large number of our people attended the services. The sympathy of the people of our community for the stricken family is too deep to be expressed in words and their grief is profound and sincere.
The funeral of Miss Bertha Felber was held from Holy Trinity church at four o'clock Wednesday afternoon, Rev. Fr. Glauber officiating and the remains were interred in the Catholic cemetery. Thursday morning mass was celebrated for the repose of her soul.
Miss Felber was twenty-two years and six months of age and was highly esteemed by her friends and associates. The bereaved family has the sincere sympathy of all.
As a mark of respect all the business houses were closed while the funerals were held.
We should not be harsh in our judgment of the poor victim of a terrible mistake. It is all too common a practice to use kerosene to kindle a fire. She deeply deplored the fatal mistake, alas too late for herself and the little innocents under her charge, but let it be a terrible warning to the people here and everywhere not to run such a frightful risk. This calamity has gone deep into the hearts of this community and it will take a long time for its somber effects to wear away.
Hartington Herald and Cedar County Leader, Friday, October 21, 1904, p1
FATAL FIRE TUESDAY
On Tuesday our community was horror stricken by one of the most terrible calamities that has ever befallen it.
Between one and two o'clock p.m. F. W. Barnhart, our postmaster, kissed his babies goodbye and happy in the possession of a happy home and three sweet children to brighten it, he walked down to his office little dreaming of coming disaster. On his arrival there Mrs. Barnhart, who has been in the habit of helping with the distribution of the noon mail, donned her wraps and was about to start for home when the telephone rang. She stepped to the receiver and the message it brought was that her home was on fire. Mr. and Mrs. Barnhart and many citizens rushed to their home to find smoke pouring out through windows, doors and roof.
The first agonizing thought was for the children and the hired girl. The latter lay prone on the ground a few feet from the kitchen door almost an unrecognizable mass of burning flesh and clothing. Mr. Barnhart, almost beside himself, rushed into the burning building and brought out his four year old daughter Hazel. Her clothes were on fire and she was horribly burned on the limbs and body. He handed her over to friends and rushed back and came out almost overcome from the smoke and kerosene fumes with the dead body of his two year old baby, Doris. In the meantime Hazel was taken across the street to the T. B. A. Watson home and willing hands carried the young woman, Miss Bertha Felber, on a mattress to the same place. In a few moments doctors arrived and the Watson home was turned into a hospital and every thing that could be done to relieve the sufferers was done.
The charred body of little Doris was taken to the J. P. Jenal home and there laid out for the burial.
Mrs. Barnhart was stunned by her awful grief and she is now prostrated and in a serious condition.
The poor victims of the accident, little Hazel and Miss Felber, died during the evening.
Miss Felber told her attendants that after Mr. Barnhart left the house she took up the kerosene can and poured some of the treacherous fluid into the range to start up the fire. There was a terrible explosion and she was covered with flames and kerosene. The children playing near were also enveloped with the terrible result already given. The building and furnishings we understand were damaged about $1000.
The funeral service over two little bodies was held from the Presbyterian church at ten o'clock Wednesday afternoon. Revs. F. M. Druliner, C. W. Sidebotham and D. M. McIntosh officiated. The little bodies were laid away in the Hartington cemetery north of town. Considering the extremely inclement weather a large number of our people attended the services. The sympathy of the people of our community for the stricken family is too deep to be expressed in words and their grief is profound and sincere.
The funeral of Miss Bertha Felber was held from Holy Trinity church at four o'clock Wednesday afternoon, Rev. Fr. Glauber officiating and the remains were interred in the Catholic cemetery. Thursday morning mass was celebrated for the repose of her soul.
Miss Felber was twenty-two years and six months of age and was highly esteemed by her friends and associates. The bereaved family has the sincere sympathy of all.
As a mark of respect all the business houses were closed while the funerals were held.
We should not be harsh in our judgment of the poor victim of a terrible mistake. It is all too common a practice to use kerosene to kindle a fire. She deeply deplored the fatal mistake, alas too late for herself and the little innocents under her charge, but let it be a terrible warning to the people here and everywhere not to run such a frightful risk. This calamity has gone deep into the hearts of this community and it will take a long time for its somber effects to wear away.
FATAL FIRE TUESDAY
On Tuesday our community was horror stricken by one of the most terrible calamities that has ever befallen it.
Between one and two o'clock p.m. F. W. Barnhart, our postmaster, kissed his babies goodbye and happy in the possession of a happy home and three sweet children to brighten it, he walked down to his office little dreaming of coming disaster. On his arrival there Mrs. Barnhart, who has been in the habit of helping with the distribution of the noon mail, donned her wraps and was about to start for home when the telephone rang. She stepped to the receiver and the message it brought was that her home was on fire. Mr. and Mrs. Barnhart and many citizens rushed to their home to find smoke pouring out through windows, doors and roof.
The first agonizing thought was for the children and the hired girl. The latter lay prone on the ground a few feet from the kitchen door almost an unrecognizable mass of burning flesh and clothing. Mr. Barnhart, almost beside himself, rushed into the burning building and brought out his four year old daughter Hazel. Her clothes were on fire and she was horribly burned on the limbs and body. He handed her over to friends and rushed back and came out almost overcome from the smoke and kerosene fumes with the dead body of his two year old baby, Doris. In the meantime Hazel was taken across the street to the T. B. A. Watson home and willing hands carried the young woman, Miss Bertha Felber, on a mattress to the same place. In a few moments doctors arrived and the Watson home was turned into a hospital and every thing that could be done to relieve the sufferers was done.
The charred body of little Doris was taken to the J. P. Jenal home and there laid out for the burial.
Mrs. Barnhart was stunned by her awful grief and she is now prostrated and in a serious condition.
The poor victims of the accident, little Hazel and Miss Felber, died during the evening.
Miss Felber told her attendants that after Mr. Barnhart left the house she took up the kerosene can and poured some of the treacherous fluid into the range to start up the fire. There was a terrible explosion and she was covered with flames and kerosene. The children playing near were also enveloped with the terrible result already given. The building and furnishings we understand were damaged about $1000.
The funeral service over two little bodies was held from the Presbyterian church at ten o'clock Wednesday afternoon. Revs. F. M. Druliner, C. W. Sidebotham and D. M. McIntosh officiated. The little bodies were laid away in the Hartington cemetery north of town. Considering the extremely inclement weather a large number of our people attended the services. The sympathy of the people of our community for the stricken family is too deep to be expressed in words and their grief is profound and sincere.
The funeral of Miss Bertha Felber was held from Holy Trinity church at four o'clock Wednesday afternoon, Rev. Fr. Glauber officiating and the remains were interred in the Catholic cemetery. Thursday morning mass was celebrated for the repose of her soul.
Miss Felber was twenty-two years and six months of age and was highly esteemed by her friends and associates. The bereaved family has the sincere sympathy of all.
As a mark of respect all the business houses were closed while the funerals were held.
We should not be harsh in our judgment of the poor victim of a terrible mistake. It is all too common a practice to use kerosene to kindle a fire. She deeply deplored the fatal mistake, alas too late for herself and the little innocents under her charge, but let it be a terrible warning to the people here and everywhere not to run such a frightful risk. This calamity has gone deep into the hearts of this community and it will take a long time for its somber effects to wear away.
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