The Beaver Herald, Beaver County, Oklahoma, Thursday, June 30, 1910
Disastrous Fire at Balko
The fire fiend seems to be abroad in our land. One destructive fire at Beaver, another threatened, and now comes the total destruction of the town of Balko by fire Sunday last, June 25th.
The fire occurred as the result of the use of gasoline to exterminate bed bugs. Mrs. Merrilees and her daughter, Miss Marcie, postmistress at that place were using the fluid and in order to completely rid the premises of the pest, had pretty thoroughly saturated the room and contents of the same in which the vermin were found. They had about completed their work when a match, which was lying on the floor, was stepped on and ignited. In an instant the entire room was ablaze. Mrs. Merrilees was near the door and made her escape without injury. The daughter was slightly burned but not seriously.
The explosion occurred in an upstairs room of Mrs. Merrilees' dwelling. This building, together with other small ones and a large store building containing a $5,000 or $6,000 stock of general merchandise and the Balko post office, were totally destroyed. This comprised the entire town.
J.A. Boatright, one of the proprietors of the store, was seriously burned. When the alarm was given Mr. Boatright was in the store He rushed to the scene of the fire and tried to extinguish the flames. The room being filled with gas and smoke, he was soon overcome. Realizing his danger, he tried to make his escape but found the way to the stairway blocked by flames. He made his way to a window and knocked out the sash but was too weak to go further. Those on the outside who were urging him to come out of the building saw him sink at the window and hurried to rescue him. This was not accomplished however until Mr. Boatright had been fearfully burned and it is feared that his injuries may prove fatal. His arms, hands, back and lower limbs were badly burned. Dr. Long was called to attend the injured man and he expressed grave fears as to his recovery. However Mr. Boatright is a strong vigorous man and may be able to withstand the injury.
The attention of those who were present being attracted to the suffering man, very little was saved from the buildings. There was no insurance on the store building or stock and only a small sum on one of the residences. This will be a grave loss for these people and their misfortune will be sincerely regretted by their many friends and customers.
At this time word comes that Mr. Boatright is resting as easy as could be expected and the earnest desire of all is that we may continue to hear of his improvement.
-------------------------------------------
The Beaver Herald, Beaver County, Oklahoma, Thursday, July 7, 1910
Burns Prove Fatal
J.A. Boatright, an account of whose burning in the Balko fire was given in these columns last week, succumbed to his injuries Friday. Burial was made in the Beaver cemetery Saturday at 10 o'clock a.m.
Mr. Boatright's injuries were so serious that from the first very little hope was entertained of his recovery. His sufferings were intense for several days, and when death finally came it came as a sweet messenger to relieve him from the tortures which he was enduring.
The deceased had no relatives in the county, but had a wife and two children at Thomas. To these he left his property, making a will shortly before he passed away. W.T. Quinn, a brother in the Masonic Lodge, was called to his bedside the evening previous to his death and wrote the instrument.
During Mr. Boatright's residence in the section where he made his home he became widely acquainted. Engaged as he was in the mercantile business, he had an opportunity to meet and mix with the people. He had many friends who regret his sad accident, and these, together with The Herald, extend deepest sympathy to the relatives.
Disastrous Fire at Balko
The fire fiend seems to be abroad in our land. One destructive fire at Beaver, another threatened, and now comes the total destruction of the town of Balko by fire Sunday last, June 25th.
The fire occurred as the result of the use of gasoline to exterminate bed bugs. Mrs. Merrilees and her daughter, Miss Marcie, postmistress at that place were using the fluid and in order to completely rid the premises of the pest, had pretty thoroughly saturated the room and contents of the same in which the vermin were found. They had about completed their work when a match, which was lying on the floor, was stepped on and ignited. In an instant the entire room was ablaze. Mrs. Merrilees was near the door and made her escape without injury. The daughter was slightly burned but not seriously.
The explosion occurred in an upstairs room of Mrs. Merrilees' dwelling. This building, together with other small ones and a large store building containing a $5,000 or $6,000 stock of general merchandise and the Balko post office, were totally destroyed. This comprised the entire town.
J.A. Boatright, one of the proprietors of the store, was seriously burned. When the alarm was given Mr. Boatright was in the store He rushed to the scene of the fire and tried to extinguish the flames. The room being filled with gas and smoke, he was soon overcome. Realizing his danger, he tried to make his escape but found the way to the stairway blocked by flames. He made his way to a window and knocked out the sash but was too weak to go further. Those on the outside who were urging him to come out of the building saw him sink at the window and hurried to rescue him. This was not accomplished however until Mr. Boatright had been fearfully burned and it is feared that his injuries may prove fatal. His arms, hands, back and lower limbs were badly burned. Dr. Long was called to attend the injured man and he expressed grave fears as to his recovery. However Mr. Boatright is a strong vigorous man and may be able to withstand the injury.
The attention of those who were present being attracted to the suffering man, very little was saved from the buildings. There was no insurance on the store building or stock and only a small sum on one of the residences. This will be a grave loss for these people and their misfortune will be sincerely regretted by their many friends and customers.
At this time word comes that Mr. Boatright is resting as easy as could be expected and the earnest desire of all is that we may continue to hear of his improvement.
-------------------------------------------
The Beaver Herald, Beaver County, Oklahoma, Thursday, July 7, 1910
Burns Prove Fatal
J.A. Boatright, an account of whose burning in the Balko fire was given in these columns last week, succumbed to his injuries Friday. Burial was made in the Beaver cemetery Saturday at 10 o'clock a.m.
Mr. Boatright's injuries were so serious that from the first very little hope was entertained of his recovery. His sufferings were intense for several days, and when death finally came it came as a sweet messenger to relieve him from the tortures which he was enduring.
The deceased had no relatives in the county, but had a wife and two children at Thomas. To these he left his property, making a will shortly before he passed away. W.T. Quinn, a brother in the Masonic Lodge, was called to his bedside the evening previous to his death and wrote the instrument.
During Mr. Boatright's residence in the section where he made his home he became widely acquainted. Engaged as he was in the mercantile business, he had an opportunity to meet and mix with the people. He had many friends who regret his sad accident, and these, together with The Herald, extend deepest sympathy to the relatives.
The Beaver Herald, Beaver County, Oklahoma, Thursday, June 30, 1910
Disastrous Fire at Balko
The fire fiend seems to be abroad in our land. One destructive fire at Beaver, another threatened, and now comes the total destruction of the town of Balko by fire Sunday last, June 25th.
The fire occurred as the result of the use of gasoline to exterminate bed bugs. Mrs. Merrilees and her daughter, Miss Marcie, postmistress at that place were using the fluid and in order to completely rid the premises of the pest, had pretty thoroughly saturated the room and contents of the same in which the vermin were found. They had about completed their work when a match, which was lying on the floor, was stepped on and ignited. In an instant the entire room was ablaze. Mrs. Merrilees was near the door and made her escape without injury. The daughter was slightly burned but not seriously.
The explosion occurred in an upstairs room of Mrs. Merrilees' dwelling. This building, together with other small ones and a large store building containing a $5,000 or $6,000 stock of general merchandise and the Balko post office, were totally destroyed. This comprised the entire town.
J.A. Boatright, one of the proprietors of the store, was seriously burned. When the alarm was given Mr. Boatright was in the store He rushed to the scene of the fire and tried to extinguish the flames. The room being filled with gas and smoke, he was soon overcome. Realizing his danger, he tried to make his escape but found the way to the stairway blocked by flames. He made his way to a window and knocked out the sash but was too weak to go further. Those on the outside who were urging him to come out of the building saw him sink at the window and hurried to rescue him. This was not accomplished however until Mr. Boatright had been fearfully burned and it is feared that his injuries may prove fatal. His arms, hands, back and lower limbs were badly burned. Dr. Long was called to attend the injured man and he expressed grave fears as to his recovery. However Mr. Boatright is a strong vigorous man and may be able to withstand the injury.
The attention of those who were present being attracted to the suffering man, very little was saved from the buildings. There was no insurance on the store building or stock and only a small sum on one of the residences. This will be a grave loss for these people and their misfortune will be sincerely regretted by their many friends and customers.
At this time word comes that Mr. Boatright is resting as easy as could be expected and the earnest desire of all is that we may continue to hear of his improvement.
-------------------------------------------
The Beaver Herald, Beaver County, Oklahoma, Thursday, July 7, 1910
Burns Prove Fatal
J.A. Boatright, an account of whose burning in the Balko fire was given in these columns last week, succumbed to his injuries Friday. Burial was made in the Beaver cemetery Saturday at 10 o'clock a.m.
Mr. Boatright's injuries were so serious that from the first very little hope was entertained of his recovery. His sufferings were intense for several days, and when death finally came it came as a sweet messenger to relieve him from the tortures which he was enduring.
The deceased had no relatives in the county, but had a wife and two children at Thomas. To these he left his property, making a will shortly before he passed away. W.T. Quinn, a brother in the Masonic Lodge, was called to his bedside the evening previous to his death and wrote the instrument.
During Mr. Boatright's residence in the section where he made his home he became widely acquainted. Engaged as he was in the mercantile business, he had an opportunity to meet and mix with the people. He had many friends who regret his sad accident, and these, together with The Herald, extend deepest sympathy to the relatives.
Disastrous Fire at Balko
The fire fiend seems to be abroad in our land. One destructive fire at Beaver, another threatened, and now comes the total destruction of the town of Balko by fire Sunday last, June 25th.
The fire occurred as the result of the use of gasoline to exterminate bed bugs. Mrs. Merrilees and her daughter, Miss Marcie, postmistress at that place were using the fluid and in order to completely rid the premises of the pest, had pretty thoroughly saturated the room and contents of the same in which the vermin were found. They had about completed their work when a match, which was lying on the floor, was stepped on and ignited. In an instant the entire room was ablaze. Mrs. Merrilees was near the door and made her escape without injury. The daughter was slightly burned but not seriously.
The explosion occurred in an upstairs room of Mrs. Merrilees' dwelling. This building, together with other small ones and a large store building containing a $5,000 or $6,000 stock of general merchandise and the Balko post office, were totally destroyed. This comprised the entire town.
J.A. Boatright, one of the proprietors of the store, was seriously burned. When the alarm was given Mr. Boatright was in the store He rushed to the scene of the fire and tried to extinguish the flames. The room being filled with gas and smoke, he was soon overcome. Realizing his danger, he tried to make his escape but found the way to the stairway blocked by flames. He made his way to a window and knocked out the sash but was too weak to go further. Those on the outside who were urging him to come out of the building saw him sink at the window and hurried to rescue him. This was not accomplished however until Mr. Boatright had been fearfully burned and it is feared that his injuries may prove fatal. His arms, hands, back and lower limbs were badly burned. Dr. Long was called to attend the injured man and he expressed grave fears as to his recovery. However Mr. Boatright is a strong vigorous man and may be able to withstand the injury.
The attention of those who were present being attracted to the suffering man, very little was saved from the buildings. There was no insurance on the store building or stock and only a small sum on one of the residences. This will be a grave loss for these people and their misfortune will be sincerely regretted by their many friends and customers.
At this time word comes that Mr. Boatright is resting as easy as could be expected and the earnest desire of all is that we may continue to hear of his improvement.
-------------------------------------------
The Beaver Herald, Beaver County, Oklahoma, Thursday, July 7, 1910
Burns Prove Fatal
J.A. Boatright, an account of whose burning in the Balko fire was given in these columns last week, succumbed to his injuries Friday. Burial was made in the Beaver cemetery Saturday at 10 o'clock a.m.
Mr. Boatright's injuries were so serious that from the first very little hope was entertained of his recovery. His sufferings were intense for several days, and when death finally came it came as a sweet messenger to relieve him from the tortures which he was enduring.
The deceased had no relatives in the county, but had a wife and two children at Thomas. To these he left his property, making a will shortly before he passed away. W.T. Quinn, a brother in the Masonic Lodge, was called to his bedside the evening previous to his death and wrote the instrument.
During Mr. Boatright's residence in the section where he made his home he became widely acquainted. Engaged as he was in the mercantile business, he had an opportunity to meet and mix with the people. He had many friends who regret his sad accident, and these, together with The Herald, extend deepest sympathy to the relatives.
Family Members
Siblings
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
