Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 286, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 November 1912 — IDAVILLE CITIZEN BURNED TO DEATH [ARTICLE]

IDAVILLE CITIZEN BURNED TO DEATH

Home Destroyed by Fire Thursday Morning—Thought Grandson in House tind Lost Life. Monticello Journal, Nov. 29. * Charles Michael was burned to death in a fire which destroyed his .home at Idaville early Thanksgiving morning, being overcome by smoke while frantically searchinig for his little two-year-old grandson, whom he believed had been left in bed ir the excitement following the discovery that the house was on fire. That his sacrifice was needless i: deplorable but in no wise detracts from the -heroism of his aet. He risked his life in the belief that he might save that of a loved and lost. No man can do more. ' His daughter, Stella, lacked only a hair’s breadth from sharing his fate in her effort to rescue him. Mr. Michael awoke a few minutes before four o’clock to find his home burning around him; he hastily called his family and all in a few moments were safe at the foot of the sairs, but Mr. Michael in his*excitement failed to see his little grandson, the child of Mrs. Mora Carnahan, which had made its home with ttiem for some time, the child perhaps being behind some of the older ones, for with a look of anguish he rushed upstairs to the bed where the child lay, calling to his daughter. Stella, to bring him a lamp. She followed a moment later - but found her father had been overcome by the smoke as he leaned over the bed searching for the child. A frantic effort to arouse him was fruitless and Stella found herself - choking and ready to fall; with a mighty effort site reached the door and managed to stagger down the stairway where her mother extinguished her blazing clothing. Help soon arrived but all that could be done was to .save the household goods and prevent the adjacent dwellings from catching fire. After the house had fallen in the body of Mr. Michael was located and by the use of extinguishers on that part of the fire it was made possible to extract the charred remains. Both feet were entirely burned away and the body of course but a black mass. The event oast a shadow of gloom over our community, making a sad Thanksgiving day.