FATAL FIRE IN CHICAGO.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 266, 16 November 1885, Page 4

FATAL FIRE IN CHICAGO.

Chicago, October 19. —Thoro was a torribly quick-spreading firo in tho brick cottago at S(i, Vornon Tark Place, owned and occupied by VV. T. Balos, a few minutes siftor tix o'clock this morning, in which four persona veto burned to doath. A family, consisting of livo persons and sorvant girl, occupiod tho building, and all but two met a terrible death. The alarm was soundod at 0.25 a.m., and whon tho iiromon arrived on tho scene the house was in flumes. Tho Fire Marshal found Mr Bates in an alloy at tho side of tho houeo Buffering from severe bruises, but he was ablo to toll tho Btory of tho catastrophe Ho said that at G o'clock this morning the servant girl started a firo in tho kitchon and went out of doors a moment later, leaving the door opon. Sho returned in a minuto or two, and fuund tho kitchen in a blaze. Batos was aroused by tho girl's scroama, and rushed into tho kitchen and tried to extinguish the flames, first with a hose attached to tho hydrant, and afterwards by buckets. Not succeeding, he sent in an alarm. Tho fireman oxtinguished the flames in about fifteen minutes, but whon they entered tho house they found the charred remains of tho entire family, with tho exception of Mr Baton. They woro Mrs Mary E. Bates, aged- 35 ; John Bates, agod 5; Edward Bates, an infant, and Mrs Dreylson, aged 70, tho mother of Mrs Batos. The partitions and nails of tho house wore lined with felt, and whon tho blaze once started, it spread with frightful rapidity. The charred bodies were removed to tho Morgue. Nothing has been hoard of the sorvant girl since her flight. It is also said that the brother of Mrs Bates was lodging ir. tho house and was soon about the placo when the firo was iii progress, but suddenly disappeared. I