Port Dover Editor
Burned to Death
Two Sisters Had Narrow Escape
(From our own
Correspondent)
Sunday afternoon the persistent
jangling of phone bells of the local system and the fire alarm bell
called our residents to the home of L. G. Morgan, from which, as soon as
a window was broken and a door opened, poured out such dense volumes of
smoke that it was found almost impossible to locate the fire, which was
later found to be in Mr. Morgan's bedroom.
As soon as the fire had been
overcome somewhat his lifeless and burned body was found lying on the
bed and removed to another room.
While the fire was being fought,
Mr. Morgan's two sisters were found, one being upstairs, unable to
locate the stairs so that she might descend, and brought outside the
residence almost overcome by the smoke which they had inhaled.
The late Mr. Morgan began
teaching in Shand's schoolhouse 55 years ago, and was one of the happy
throng which foregathered at that spot last September when the annual
re-union of "Aunt" Dolly Smith's pupils was held.
Later he taught in the Port
Dover High School. Increasing deafness caused him to relinquish his
chosen profession and he entered journalism, becoming the editor and
proprietor of the Port Dover Maple Leaf some 38 years ago.
Being generally conceded to be
one of the best masters of English in Canada, his editorials in that
paper were a pleasure to read.
In addition to the two sisters
already mentioned, deceased leaves one brother, Crosbie, of this village
to regret his demise.
The funeral (private) took place
from his late residence Tuesday afternoon of this week.
It is now known that the fire
was caused by a coal oil heater over which Mr. Morgan threw an overcoat
to smother the flames and called to his sister for assistance.
Finding it impossible to gain
entrance to the room, she ran outdoors and gave the alarm, after which
we returned and again endeavored to gain entrance to the room.
From his position on the bed it
is deduced that the deceased was suffocated and, falling on the bed,
became burned after death had taken place.
The sympathy of the entire
community goes out to the bereaved on in their hour of bereavement.
The two chemical engines did
good work and prevented the fire from spreading beyond the bedroom, of
which even the door and the outside door casing were reduced to
charcoal.
Mr. Morgan's two sisters are now
thought to be out of danger, though they are still suffering
considerably from the effects of the smoke which they inhaled.
