September 1, 1887
- HORRIBLE DEATH -
A survivor of Fannin Massacre Burned to Death
Denton, August 25, 1887
A very disastrous fire occurred here at 2 o'clock this morning in which Colonel A. J. Hitchcock, an old and well known Texas veteran, lost his life. The fire originated in the kitchen of the James Hotel on Oak Street, recently kept by S. W. Keeton, but for the last few days by a young man by the name of Robert Fain. It was discovered by A.W. Robertson, Esq., boarder of the place, who at once raised the alarm, but being a cripple was unable to make any effort to subdue the flames. The hotel occupied the second story of two brick business houses, and had two stairways, one running up on the outside and another, not used, leading down into one of the business houses. The proprietor, Mr. Fain, examined the condition of the fire and pronounced it beyond control, and notified the guests of the fact. Mr. Robinson, who occupied the same room as Colonel Hitchcock, says that he aroused him up and told him where the fire was, and that the way was clear to the outside stairway, and that while he was throwing a trunk out of the window that Hitchcock started out, and that he followed soon after him, but did not see him any more. Reaching the street and not seeing him any more, and knowing that he was old and infirm, he sent a man to search the rooms to see if he had lost his way or had been overcome with the smoke. Search was made in every room except where the flames were already raging and he was not found and it was supposed that he had come down the stairs and disappeared in the crowd. In a few minutes the building was wrapped in flames and in a short-time converted into a heap of ruins. It was not until after daylight that the fate of one of Texas true and tried sons was known. As nothing could be heard of him it was decided that he must have been lost in the building. Search was made for the body, and at 2 o'clock p.m. this evening it was found, and it was then discovered that he had gone down the stairway into one of the business.
--rec'd from Linda M 25 Jan 2011
- HORRIBLE DEATH -
A survivor of Fannin Massacre Burned to Death
Denton, August 25, 1887
A very disastrous fire occurred here at 2 o'clock this morning in which Colonel A. J. Hitchcock, an old and well known Texas veteran, lost his life. The fire originated in the kitchen of the James Hotel on Oak Street, recently kept by S. W. Keeton, but for the last few days by a young man by the name of Robert Fain. It was discovered by A.W. Robertson, Esq., boarder of the place, who at once raised the alarm, but being a cripple was unable to make any effort to subdue the flames. The hotel occupied the second story of two brick business houses, and had two stairways, one running up on the outside and another, not used, leading down into one of the business houses. The proprietor, Mr. Fain, examined the condition of the fire and pronounced it beyond control, and notified the guests of the fact. Mr. Robinson, who occupied the same room as Colonel Hitchcock, says that he aroused him up and told him where the fire was, and that the way was clear to the outside stairway, and that while he was throwing a trunk out of the window that Hitchcock started out, and that he followed soon after him, but did not see him any more. Reaching the street and not seeing him any more, and knowing that he was old and infirm, he sent a man to search the rooms to see if he had lost his way or had been overcome with the smoke. Search was made in every room except where the flames were already raging and he was not found and it was supposed that he had come down the stairs and disappeared in the crowd. In a few minutes the building was wrapped in flames and in a short-time converted into a heap of ruins. It was not until after daylight that the fate of one of Texas true and tried sons was known. As nothing could be heard of him it was decided that he must have been lost in the building. Search was made for the body, and at 2 o'clock p.m. this evening it was found, and it was then discovered that he had gone down the stairway into one of the business.
--rec'd from Linda M 25 Jan 2011
September 1, 1887
- HORRIBLE DEATH -
A survivor of Fannin Massacre Burned to Death
Denton, August 25, 1887
A very disastrous fire occurred here at 2 o'clock this morning in which Colonel A. J. Hitchcock, an old and well known Texas veteran, lost his life. The fire originated in the kitchen of the James Hotel on Oak Street, recently kept by S. W. Keeton, but for the last few days by a young man by the name of Robert Fain. It was discovered by A.W. Robertson, Esq., boarder of the place, who at once raised the alarm, but being a cripple was unable to make any effort to subdue the flames. The hotel occupied the second story of two brick business houses, and had two stairways, one running up on the outside and another, not used, leading down into one of the business houses. The proprietor, Mr. Fain, examined the condition of the fire and pronounced it beyond control, and notified the guests of the fact. Mr. Robinson, who occupied the same room as Colonel Hitchcock, says that he aroused him up and told him where the fire was, and that the way was clear to the outside stairway, and that while he was throwing a trunk out of the window that Hitchcock started out, and that he followed soon after him, but did not see him any more. Reaching the street and not seeing him any more, and knowing that he was old and infirm, he sent a man to search the rooms to see if he had lost his way or had been overcome with the smoke. Search was made in every room except where the flames were already raging and he was not found and it was supposed that he had come down the stairs and disappeared in the crowd. In a few minutes the building was wrapped in flames and in a short-time converted into a heap of ruins. It was not until after daylight that the fate of one of Texas true and tried sons was known. As nothing could be heard of him it was decided that he must have been lost in the building. Search was made for the body, and at 2 o'clock p.m. this evening it was found, and it was then discovered that he had gone down the stairway into one of the business.
--rec'd from Linda M 25 Jan 2011
- HORRIBLE DEATH -
A survivor of Fannin Massacre Burned to Death
Denton, August 25, 1887
A very disastrous fire occurred here at 2 o'clock this morning in which Colonel A. J. Hitchcock, an old and well known Texas veteran, lost his life. The fire originated in the kitchen of the James Hotel on Oak Street, recently kept by S. W. Keeton, but for the last few days by a young man by the name of Robert Fain. It was discovered by A.W. Robertson, Esq., boarder of the place, who at once raised the alarm, but being a cripple was unable to make any effort to subdue the flames. The hotel occupied the second story of two brick business houses, and had two stairways, one running up on the outside and another, not used, leading down into one of the business houses. The proprietor, Mr. Fain, examined the condition of the fire and pronounced it beyond control, and notified the guests of the fact. Mr. Robinson, who occupied the same room as Colonel Hitchcock, says that he aroused him up and told him where the fire was, and that the way was clear to the outside stairway, and that while he was throwing a trunk out of the window that Hitchcock started out, and that he followed soon after him, but did not see him any more. Reaching the street and not seeing him any more, and knowing that he was old and infirm, he sent a man to search the rooms to see if he had lost his way or had been overcome with the smoke. Search was made in every room except where the flames were already raging and he was not found and it was supposed that he had come down the stairs and disappeared in the crowd. In a few minutes the building was wrapped in flames and in a short-time converted into a heap of ruins. It was not until after daylight that the fate of one of Texas true and tried sons was known. As nothing could be heard of him it was decided that he must have been lost in the building. Search was made for the body, and at 2 o'clock p.m. this evening it was found, and it was then discovered that he had gone down the stairway into one of the business.
--rec'd from Linda M 25 Jan 2011
Inscription
born Columbus, GA / Came to Texas a member of Capt Wadsworths Co GA Batt., was with Col. Fannin at the Goliad massacre and escaped, burned to death at Denton
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