Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1902 — DEATH COMES. IN DISASTERS [ARTICLE]

DEATH COMES. IN DISASTERS

Passengers Perish While Asleep as Steamer Burns to Water’s Edge. A DAY OF FIRES AND WRECKS. Four Dio In a Boat Fire at Memphis, Tennessee—Forgotten Child Burns to Death In Philadelphia—Two Die at Fort Wayne, Memphis, Tenn., dispatch: The steamer Sun, employed in the Memphis and Fulton trade, burned to the water’s edge early in the morning and four lives were lost. The dead: D. H. Rainey, Old River, Ark.; Mrs. D. N. Rainey, Old River, Ark.; Mrs. G. M. Timbs, Richardson Landing, Tenn.; child of G. M. Timbs, 3 months old’. The fire was discovered at 4:10 o’clock and spread with such rapidity that the steamer was a mass of flames when the department responded to the alarm. When the steamer arrived in port last night from Fulton she had considerable freight on board and a full list of passengers. All of the latter left the steamer immediately with the exception of about a dozen who decided to spend the night on the boat. Among these were Mr. and Mrs. Timbs and baby, Mrs. Timbs’ sister, Miss Josie Hammers, and Mr. and Mrs. D. N. Rainey. It was nearly midnight when the boat tied up. Miss Hammers was sleeping with her sister and the baby in a stateroom, and when she was awakened by the smoke she aroused her sister and started toward an exit. Her sister, however, went back for the baby, and before she could return the hurricane deck gave way and all escapes were cut off. Miss Hammers was able to escape without injury. Timbs was in another stateroom, and until the collapse of the roof came tried by every means to reach his wife. Mr. and Mrs. Rainey had a stateroom, and although it was thought that all the passengers on the boat had been aroused nothing was ever heard from them until their charred remains were discovered. When- tbe first body was taken out there was doubt as to whose it was, but Timbs identified it as that of his wife by. a ring. The body of the baby has not been found. The steamer Sun was the property of George W. Phillips, its captain, and John Brenner, the clerk.

Killed In a Midnight Fire.

Philadelphia, Pa., dispatch: One child was burned to death, its parents were seriously injured and two other young children were slightly injured as a result of a fire at the home of James H. Connelly, 3976 Wyalusing avenue, at midnight. Shortly after the family had retired fire was discovered on the first floor of the house. Escape by the stairs was cut off and Connelly threw his 2-year-old son and 2-months-old baby out of a second-story window into the arms of neighbors. These little ones escaped with slight injuries. The parents then jumped and were both badly hurt. In the excitement the 4-year-old daughter, Mary, was forgotten. When the parents realized that she had not escaped a frantic effort was made by the firemen to save her. After the flames had been extinguished the little girl’s charred body was found in the second story. Two Dead from Coal Gm. Fort Wayne, Ind. dispatch: Two are dead and one will die as the result of asphyxiation from a coal stove last night at the residence of George Schaffer, a wealthy retired grocer. The dead: George Schaffer, Anna James. The dying: Henry Anderson. Schaffer was a German. 65 years old, who had made a comfortable fortune doing grocery business, and Henry Anderson, aged 60 years, a veteran of the civil war and a life-long friend, was his companion. This morning a nephew of Schaffer, his only relative, went to the house with Christmas presents. He found the place locked and forced an entrance, and the bodies of Anna James and Anderson were found. The woman was dead, but Anderson still showed signs of life and was taken to the hospital. An investigation by the police showed that the chimney flue was obstructed with soot and the gas had filled the house. Three Injured in a Wreck* Dallas, Tex., dispatch: The Missouri Kansas and Texas north-bound passenger train due in Dallas at 1:20 o'clock last night was wrecked and almost completely burned six miles south of here just before midnight. Three persons were injured, but no one was killed. The baggage, express and mail cars were saved.. The injured: Jenks Clark, engineer, Denison, Tex., Injured about shoulders and legs; William Kevney, fireman, also of Denison, Injured about head and legs. Joseph Henry, colored, injured internally. The engine and one Pullman are all that remain, five cars being totally destroyed.