Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 145, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 June 1918 — STOVE EXPLODES; HOUSE BURNS [ARTICLE]

STOVE EXPLODES; HOUSE BURNS

MOTHER AND CHILD BARELY ESCAPE WITH THEIR LIVES. ,An early morning fire caused by the explosion of a kerosene stove, < line very near resulting in two fatalities. As it was a mother was very severely burned about the face and one hand and her son had his ear burned and his hair singed. The fire occured at the home of C. E. Bowen and family, who live in the Charles Battleday residence on north College avenue, about 7:00 o’clock this Thursday morning. Mrs. Bowen had prepared the morning meal for her husband and he had gone to his work at the Main garage. She had turned the burner down on her kerosene stove and had gone to the home of her neighbor's, Mr. and Mrs. Guy Hudson, who live nearby.

•The oldest son and little two year old daughter were up and out in the yard. The boy noticed the fire in the house and, called to his mother to come home. While she was running home the stove exploded. The house was a story and a half building and upstairs and two other boys were asleep. The mother ran into the house and called for the boys to come down at once. The house was then in flames. One of the lads came down but the other little fellow was so excited that he did not come and the mother rushed upstairs and started to carry him down. The flames were then about the stairway and when descending the mother fell with the boy and it was at this time both were burned. The flames soon enveloped the building and not a thing was taken from the house. The loss of the furniture and a small sum of money representing their all will be very keenly felt by these people. ' The children are all young. The oldest son must not be more than ten years of age. They have lived . here since February, coming to this city from Winamac. While in Winamac Mr. Bowen had his household goods insured but had failed to have the policy transferred when he moved. This cf course invalidated the policy and the loss will fall heavily upon this unfortunate family. Mr. Bowen is a mechanic and it at his work every day. His good wife has assisted him and "each week has been in the habit of doing a number of family washings. When these facts are known to the people of Rensselaer, the biggest hearted people in the world, they will see that misfortune shall not press down heavily upon these deserving people, our friends and neighbors. The building which was almost ruined by the fire belonged to Charles Battleday and was insured. The fire company reached the burning building in good time and did heroic work under the direction of acting chief Charles Rhoades. Chief J. J. Montgomery was out of the city havingztaken Slacker Lytle to Indianapolis for the government.The peculiar construction of the building made the fire a bard one to handle and the company was not able to put the fire out until the building had been practically ruined.