Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2011, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== NEWSPAPER: Cato New York Citizen Saturday, February 8, 1908 =========================================================================== WENT TO HIS DEATH _________ Well known Port Byron Man Suffocated in Fire. _________ FRIENDS ADVICE UNHEEDED _________ After Removing Invalid Wife John W. Barrus Rushed Back into the Burning House. Another disasterous rural fire with loss of life occurred in this county early Monday morning when John W. Barrus, one of the most prominent citizens of Port Byron and one of the leaders in the Prohibition party in this State was suffo- cated in a fire at his home, the residence and contents being entirely destroyed. It appears that in the Barrus home, which is located in Green street in the village of Port Byron, the furnace was covered with asbestos and this was boxed in a wooden enclosure. The fire is sup- posed to have started from a defective flue in the cellar near the furnace and was first discovered about 6:15 Monday morning. Mr. Barrus, who was about 76 years old and resided alone with his wife, awoke to find the house filled with smoke and after calling to Zach Graham, the nearest neighbor, they went to his wife's room and removed her from the burning house. The woman is an invalid and the shock of the misfortune together with the subsequent news of her hus- band's death has placed her in a serious condition. Mr. Barrus after his wife had been re- moved to a place of safety started to reenter the house to get something. It was not known what object he sought and the advice of the neighbors who had been attracted to the scene was against his entering the building. He paid no attention to their efforts to disuade him, however, and plunged into the smoky apartments through a rear door. When he did not reappear after a few minutes the citizens at the fire led by Mr. Graham broke into a window of the sitting room where into the thick smoke and flames they found the body of Mr. Barrus. He had been overcome with smoke and at the time the body was found was dead. The flames had already reached the body, the shoes and part of the fur coat worn by Mr. Barrus being burned. Medical aid was promptly summoned but Mr. Barrus was beyond resuscitation. In spite of the efforts of the local fire department the house and contents were a total loss. The house was valued at about $2,000 and the contents at about $1,800. So far as can be learned there was little insurance. The deceased was one of the most prominent citizens of the county. For the past 50 years he was a prominent Mason and besides being one of the or- ganizers of the State Prohibition party was a member of the State committee at the present time. He is survived by his wife, one son, William Barrus of Port Byron, and also by two daughters, Miss Clara Barrus, physician-in-charge of the State Insane asylum at Middleton, N.Y., and another daughter, Mrs. John D. Johnson of New York. ==========================================================================