Wayne Paris

PARIS, VAN HORN, THURBER, BIERSBORN, WILEY, NEWELL, ALBRIGHT, BOOMERSHINE

Posted By: Deb Barker (email)
Date: 11/15/2014 at 14:04:20

Ottumwa tri-weekly courier, August 27, 1910

PARIS BOY BORN
IN BL00MFIELD
FORMER CHRISTIAN MINISTER
LOSES SON WHEN BARN
IS BURNED.
Bloomfield. Aug. 25.—Mr. and Mrs. L. S. Van Horn have returned from Liscomb where they attended the funeral of the Paris boy. The details of the horrible tragedy follow: While playing with matches in a barn loft filled with hay. Wayne Paris, aged 8 son of Rev. T. F. Paris, pastor of the Christian church Liscomb, and "Teddy" Thurber, aged 5, son of Fred Thurber, of Liscomb, met death in one of its most horrible forms Saturday evening. The fire consumed the little bodies so that they were unrecognizable excepting for the difference in size and for little particles of
clothing that remained. The rear of the Christian parsonage property where the barn was situated, was the scene of the terrible tragedy. Several children had been playing about the barn, and the little Paris and Thurber boys had gone for some matches with which to start a bonfire. Just how the matches happened to be lighted in the barn loft will never be known, and the first warning came when the fire bell sounded an alarm. Citizens of the town responded to the alarm of fire with a will, but the horribleness of the affair was unknown at the time, and not until the fire was under control. It was at once discovered by the parents of the two boys that they were not among the other children who had been playing about and in the barn. The older son of Mr. and Mrs. Thurber said that, his brother and the little Paris boy had just gone into the barn shortly before, and that they had matches with which to start a bonfire. Even then, however, it was believed that, after setting fire to the barn, and realizing what they had
done they had hidden in the weeds, afraid to show themselves. Rev. Mr. Paris, almost frantic from fear of the worst, entered the burning barn, calling with all his strength the names of the two boys. He received no answer. The barn was then a mass of flames, as the loft had recently been filled with hay. Mr. Paris had to be carried from the burning barn by force, and even then sustained several burns and had his hair singed badly. The bucket brigade of citizens soon had the fire under control and when the heat subsided sufficiently to permit a closer investigation a grew-some sight, met the eyes of strong men who baffled the smothering smoke to make sure of the fate of the lads. In the northwest corner of the loft, huddled together, were two small and blackened bodies, that of the smaller, the Thurber boy, being crouched over that of his companion. What remained of two little pairs of hands were held firmly over what had been two little human countenances. Little knees were drawn upward, in the agonies of death, and the sight, was one that made the strongest men sob with grief. The parents of the two victims of the tragedy were all but insane with grief, and both mothers were prostrated. Mr. Paris condition was especially pitiful, for he believed himself that if he had kept on in his first, attempt to investigate he could have saved both boys. Others, however, say that the task would have been impossible, and that the minister probably would have died himself without being able to save his son and the latter's companion. To the Reformed church, nearby, the two little charred bodies were removed from the burned building, and after being prepared for burial two little white caskets were taken to the Christian church parsonage, where they were placed, side by side. Surrounding them were many beautiful flowers, sent by Sunday school children and friends of both families.
Monday afternoon at ?, o'clock a double funeral was held from the Christian parsonage, in charge of Rev. George Biersborn of Liscomb, assisted by Rev. Mr. Sandy, of Des Moines, a friend of Mr. Paris. The service was very largely attended. A quartet, composed of Mrs. George Biersborn. Miss Rose Lincoln, Lowell Bixby. And Edward Burkhart sang. Interment was in the Liscomb cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. L. S. Van Home of Bloomfield, the latter a sister of Mrs. Paris, were at the funeral, as were also Henry Wiley and family, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Wiley. Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Newell, Mrs. Eva Albright, and Miss Clara Albright, of Grundy Center, relatives of Mrs. Thurber. There were present from this city Messrs. Hollis and Eben Thurber: brothers of Mr. Thurber and their wives. At the Christian church Sunday morning union services in memory to the dead, were conducted by Rev. J. E. Boomershine, pastor of the church where the bodies were taken after being removed from the barn. The entire community, acting as a single individual, offered every service to the grief stricken families that was possible and a hush of sadness and awe spread over the entire town as a result of the tragedy. In each of the stricken families there were three children, and fate decreed that the middle one from each should be claimed. The little Paris boy was the only son and was born at Bloomfield, Sept. 26. 1901. The other children are aged 11 and 4. The family has lived in Des Moines for the past five years, while Mr. Paris has been in school at Drake, from which he graduated last spring. The Parises moved to Liscomb a few weeks ago.