Tullis, John (Died 1910)

TULLIS, BURRILL

Posted By: Viv Reeves (email)
Date: 2/8/2006 at 11:58:24

From the LeMars Sentinel, October 7, 1910:
RECEIVED DREADFUL NEWS
Father and Child Are Burned to Death on a Claim

G. W. Burrill, residing at 605 Plymouth street, received a telegram on Wednesday stating that his son-in-law, John Tullis, with his little daughter, Esther, had been burned to death.

The telegram gave no details. Miss Emma Burrill left immediately on receipt of the dreadful news for Artesian, S. D., the nearest point to the claim, on which her sister lives. She was met at Sioux City by Wesley Burrill, a merchant of Akron, her brother, who accompanied her there. Mr. and Mrs. William Tullis, of Merrill, father of John Tullis, also went along. No details of the tragedy were given and the family here in LeMars were in suspense all day awaiting some tidings, but up to last night had heard no further news. The Tullis place is isolated. The Burrill family expect the bodies will be brought here for interment.
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From the LeMars Sentinel, October 11, 1910:
HE WAS A BRAVE MAN
JOHN TULLIS MEETS DEATH IN ATTEMPTED RESCUE
BOTH PERISHED IN FLAMES
He Was Awakened to Find Home in Flames, and After Saving Lives
of His Wife and Little Sons, Returns For His Only Daughter

Further particulars have been received in LeMars concerning the tragedy which resulted in the death of John Tullis and his daughter, Esther, near Artesian, S. D., mention of which was made in the Sentinel last issue. John Tullis and his daughter were burned to death last Tuesday night.

The origin of the fire will never be known, but it is supposed that some matches were lying on a shelf in the kitchen, and that mice started the blaze. Mr. Tullis, who was sleeping upstairs, was the first to discover the fire, by smelling smoke. He hastily ran downstairs to investigate, and to his horror found the house enveloped in flames. He at once thought of the children upstairs and succeeded in getting three of them out, each time he had to fight his way through the flames in the kitchen to the upstairs. The last time he went back to get the daughter. By this time the house was burning so rapidly that just as he got in the house fell in, and he and his daughter were buried beneath the ruins and left to burn to death. It is thought the girl must have been suffocated or she surely would have awakened. Mrs. Tullis and the baby were sleeping downstairs, and they were awakened by Mr. Tullis. As the bedroom door was opened the flames immediately shot in there, and Mrs. Tullis only had time to grab the baby and make their escape. Seeing it was utterly impossible for her to do anything, Mrs. Tullis picked up the baby and clothed in nothing but their night clothes proceeded to run to the nearest neighbor, a mile away. Seeing she could not cover the distance as quickly as she wished , she laid the babe in the grass by the roadside and continued on her sad errand. After reaching this home word was sent all along the line, but help was too late as the entire home was burned to ashes. The bodies were at once dug out from the debris. When found Mr. Tullis's head was burned off his body and also one arm. The rest of the body was also burned to almost nothing. The little girl, who was eleven years old, and was the only daughter, was burnt to a crisp. The charred bodies were picked up and placed in one casket, and were shipped to Merrill. The funeral services were held at the Methodist Episcopal church on Friday afternoon at two o'clock. The local pastor, Rev. Glen M. Squires, officiating. It was one of the saddest funerals ever held in Merrill. The remains were laid to rest in the Merrill cemetery. The wife and mother is nearly crazed with grief by the manner her husband and daughter met their awful death. All that was saved from the fire were the night clothes which they had on. They lived near Artesian, S. D., but formerly lived near Merrill and are well known. Mrs. Tullis will be remembered as Miss Ida Burrill. Mr. Tullis is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Tullis, of Merrill, and was about forty six years of age. (actually 49)
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Alton Democrat, October 22, 1910
WAYSIDE NOTES

The funeral services of the late John Tullis of Artesian, South Dakota, were held at Merrill October seventh. Deceased lost his life in his effort to rescue his daughter from the burning home at Artesian.
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