pershing

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_J._Pershing

Helen Frances Warren (1880-1915), wife of General John J. Pershing; she died in a fire at their San Francisco residence, with their three little daughters, in August 1915. www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=5795509

pennylrichardsca: Thank you for this sad information about General Pershing's family. We will add some of the details to the image description when we update.

How sad. Here is the story as it appeared in a newspaper: GIVES LIFE TRYING TO SAVE CHILDREN ----- Mrs. John J. Pershing and Three Little Daughters Perish in Flames at Presidio ------ San Francisco -- Mrs. John J. Pershing, wife of Brigadier General Pershing and her three children were burned to death early Friday, August 27, in their home at the Presidio. General Pershing is at the Mexican border. The dead are: Mrs. John J. Pershing Margaret Pershing, aged 3 years. Ann Pershing, aged 6 years. Helen Pershing, aged 8 years. Mrs. Walter O. Boswell, wife of Lieutenant Boswell, instructor in the Athens Military School, Atlanta, Ga.; her two sons, Billie, aged 1 1/2 years, and James, aged 5 years; the 5-year-old son of Mrs. Pershing, Warren Pershing, and Florentine Perery, a Filipine maid, were rescued by officers and soldiers of the business men's instruction camp. Mrs. Pershing is a daughter of Senator Francis E. Warren of Wyoming. She is well known in San Francisco and has been a general favorite since taking up residence here. Fire was discovered raging through the building, near the parade grounds, shortly before 5 a.m. Mrs. Pershing sacrificed her life in an ineffectual attempt to save her three baby girls. She was found in a bedroom, baby Margaret in her arms, the other two girls clinging to the bedclothes. Mrs. Pershing was crushed under a heavy beam. Mrs. Boswell, a life-long friend of Mrs. Pershing was visiting at the Pershing home. Lieutenant Boswell, formerly with the Twenty-first Infantry here, has just been assigned to the Atlanta military school. He and General Pershing saw service together in the Philippine Islands, where Lieutenant Boswell acted as the general's aid. Mrs. Boswell and Mrs. Pershing graduated from Wellesley College in the same class, and have been taking a prominent part in the Wellesley celebration at the Exposition. Three hundred heroes, members of the army instruction camp, officers and soldiers of the post, three city fire companies and three from the Exposition fought vainly to save the lives of Mrs. Pershing and the children. Battling through smoke and flames, the rescuers dared a veritable furnace to bring the woman and children to safety. Their relentless efforts saved Warren Pershing. An investigation, which was started during the day by a board of inquiry appointed by Major H.H. Whitney, commanding officer, established the fact that the fire started from an open grate in the dining room, which was left piled hight with living coals when Mrs. Pershing and Mrs. Church retired shortly before midnight. Brigadier-General John J. Pershing returned to San Francisco Sunday morning, August 29, bowed, haggard, silent. He went at once to the undertaking parlors at Geary and Divisadero streets and for half an hour remained alone with the bodies of his wife and his three little girls, Ann, Helen and Margaret, who perished in the Presidio fire. From this flower filled room he went to look at the ruin of his house in the Presidio. He walked through the black and empty rooms and saw the bare beds and the path that the flames had taken in the night. He then went to the Letterman Hospital. Here he was greeted wit loving arms and the familiar cry of "pape, papa." His son Warren, 5 years old, the only one left, was waiting for him. They were left alone. The only thing that has consoled the boy in these last two days has been the fact that "papa is coming." His father had telegraphed him. The General returned to the Stewart Hotel for a brief rest. At 1:30, accompanied by Major-General Murray and the officers of the army post, he went to Gray's undertaking chapel, Geary and Divisadero streets, where Episcopal funeral services were conducted. The Rev. Dr. Edward Morgan, rector of St. Luke's Church, officiated. While the services were in progress a crowd of close to a thousand gathered in front of the chapel. General Pershing and his party left immediately after the services. An hour after the services the caskets containing the bodies of Mrs. Pershing and her three daughters were borne by the non-commissioned officers to two motor hearses outside the chapel. The caskets were in white cases, prepared for shipment. Six honorary pallbearers marched before them as they were being carried to the hearses. The non-commissioned officers acting as body-bearers did not march beside the hearses until the ferry was reached. They then formed in line and accompanied the hearses aboard the ferryboat Alameda, which left a 3:20 to connect with the Overland Limited. The train drew out of the Oakland mole at 4 o'clock. Accompanying General Pershing on his way to Cheyenne for the burial were his son Warren, Senator and Mrs. Warren, parents of Mrs. Pershing, and Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Warren. source: (The (Placerville, California) Mountain Democrat, Sept 4, 1915, page 4

See www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/6331254533/

Thanks, B-59, we can add full name to record.

Pershing High School in Detroit is named after General Pershing.