From the sacred grounds of Jewish Waldheim Cemetery comes a story almost too horrible to contemplate:
TWO CHILDREN BURNED TO DEATH; THIRD MAY DIE
Fatal Fire in Humble West Side Home of Benjamin Kaplan
Two children were burned to death, a girl 4 years old and a boy 6 years old, and a third child, a girl about 10 years old, was burned perhaps fatally in a fire early this morning in a two story brick building at 1104 West Fourteenth street.
Benjamin Kapovitz, a peddler, is the father of the children.
The dead children are Nathan, 6, and David, 4 years of age. Annie, 10, was probably fatally burned.
Mother Gives Alarm
The family occupied the first floor in the rear of the building, which is of brick construction. The whole rear of the building was in flames when the mother ran into the street screaming and gave the alarm.
Pedestrians attracted to the scene by her cries carried the children to the street.
The younger girl was dead when carried out and the boy died while being taken to the county hospital. Efforts were made there to save the life of the third child. The bodies of the dead children are at the county morgue.
They were burned to death in their beds. The mother rescued her nursing baby.
Others Driven Out
Chief Michael Merwin of the seventh battalion with engine companies Nos. 18 and 6, answered the single alarm of fire sent in and quickly got the flames under control.
Chicago Daily Tribune, January 23, 1916
Anna, Nathan and Dave are buried together in Gate 19 - Gomle Chesed Shel Emeth. May they rest in peace.
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| Anna Koplovitz |
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| Nathan Koplovitz |
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| Dave Koplovitz |
We just discovered my husbands long lost Aunt and Uncles last Sunday at Waldheim. Thanks for the blog about them.
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