Barker Children – Died 1898

BARKER

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 11/14/2020 at 13:20:34

Source: Decorah Republican Oct. 27, 1898 P 3 C 3

Children Burned to Death.
Hopington, Iowa, Oct. 24.—Mrs. Barker, living in a small unplastered house, went out to the barn to attend to some chores and left a piece of cloth hanging on the oven door of a redhot stove. The cloth caught fire, and when that part of it next to the stove was consumed the remainder dropped so near the wall, which has been lathed but not plastered, that the lath caught fire, and, being as dry as tinder, the flames spread with great rapidity. The mother had left three children in the house, and the oldest one ran out to tell her that the house was on fire. The mother ran to the house and rescued the youngest child, but not in time to prevent its being burned so badly that its life is despared of. The remaining child, who was just able to walk, was so blinded by the smoke that it lost its way, and getting behind the door, could not escape, and was almost completely consumed, only a small party{sic} of the body being found.