Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 December 1887 — A HEART RENDING CALAMITY [ARTICLE]

A HEART RENDING CALAMITY

That Overwhelmed tile Family of a Former Jasperitc. On the night of December 10, near Wessington, Dakota, a dire calamity overwhelmed the fa!mily of a former resident of this comity. The particulars of fvhich are given beloiv, in an extract from the Chicago Inter-Ocean: Fuller particulars are received relative to the burning of Michael Harris’ house, and with seven members of the family, on Saturday night, They lived iu a two story frame house on a farm in the WessiDgton hills, and less than twelve miles from Wessington. All slept in the upper story and in one room. There were eleven members of the family, eight children, Michael Harris and wife, and the wife’s brother,-a man by the name of Parr. Harris thinks it was about fhiduigbt when he and his wife were awakened by the crackling of fire, and nearly sufficated with smoke. He tried to go down stairs, but flames and smoke drove him back. Seeing no other escape he threw up a window, and jumped out into the snow with only his night clothes on. He called to his wife and Parr to throw the children out to him and he would save them. The wiEo threw the babe, which he safely caught in his arms, Then Parr jumped out to save himself, and Harries’ oldest boy, aged 14, “WCnt also. Mrs. Harris looked at them an instant, then turned to the other six children, who by this time had huddlecl around her, aud was on the point of picking up one of them when the timbers of the house gave way below, burned oil by the flames, and let the roof and all down upon them. The seven sonk to the bed of embers, and were heard screaming for help, but i in a moment or two their voices were stilled.

The men were paralized with 1 horror and unable to do anything to save those in the fire. It was a bitter night, with the wind blow-j iu-g thirty miles an hour aud the mercury eight or ten below ! but Parr mounted a horse and rode two miles in his shirt and drawers : for help, while Harris took his two ! saved children into the' barn and j coVßredr them up witlr straw as well ns he could. Ail were severely frozen, and the baby can hardly survive its injuries. Mr. Harris formerly lived in Carpenter township and later moV ed to Beaver Prairie, Newton county. His wife was the danght- j |er of Wm. Parr, still living in I Jackson tp., and he has a sister in Remington, Mrs. Ezra Bowman.