Pampa Daily News from Pampa, Texas • Page 1

RepnMle win be pflteptf ravaged In tfte fwMttfetft CJe jnat the Kentart Bmpffe Hf tit Genttipy the tf If thtt In the tfevmslatfftfi of ttettan thg Mans apd tmrng ff cm ttorMrt white ywif tebiftens hfi people jwtf fttwt sefiftfty," Maeaoley WIATHIt Of 6'. Partly Top a' Texas 52 ftirf ing ttlgh 8 PAMPA, TEXAS, MOKbAY, AUGUST 24, 1959 (8 PASES TODAY) Blaze Started In Basement Apartment By RICK Dally News Managing Editor The worst catastrophe in Pampa's 47-year history ended the lives of five members of the same family in a spectacular early morning apartment fire here Flames that began about 2 a.m. in a north west ment apartment turned the Giiking only three blocks from the heart of the business district into a. three story brick furnace for almost four hours. and fire officials who are still busy investigating the holocaust believe a carelessly flipped cigarette butt may have ignited the inferno.

The five dead and the times their twisted bodies, charred almost beyond recognition were carried from the were: 4:15 a.m. Gary Richard Stone, age 15. 5:09 a.m. Mr. Lewis Stone, age 42, an electrician for Hollis Electric Company.

5:14 a.m. Stone, age 20, a beauty operator for Louise's Beauty Shop. 5:26 a.m. Mrs. Lewis (Christine) Stone, age 41, a house wife and the mother of seven children.

41 5:29 a.m. Kenneth Stone, age 8. The grim box score from the disaster today read like this: five killed, three injured and hospitalized, and seven other tenants safe. Three tenants were visiting out of town at the time of Ihe blaze. Of the Stone family, three, boys who narrowly escaped the fire, and a daughter Mrs.

Bobby Ray Braley of Dallas survive. Two of the Stone boys, Leslie, 14, and Norman'Ray, 12, pummeled to safety from the licking Ihlrd story flarnes and smoke. A nearby James Williams naught or broke the- youngsters fall. The third Stone boy, Russell, 17, Si down a metal fire escape leading off back balcony, but -Mt deep gash in his arm breaking out of a glassed door. Russell and Norman Ray, who Injured an ankle Jumping to safety, were- reported in good condi Stone's Rites Slated, Help Pouring In Funeral services for five members of the Lewis Stone family will be held at 2 p.m.

Tuesday in the Duenkel Carmlchael Funeral Home chapel. The. Stone's died in the Sunday morning fire that gutted the di- king Apartments. The victims are Lewis Stone, 42; his wife Christine, a daughter, Betty Jean, ffitkm at Highland General an( wo Gary, 15, and noon today. Kenneth, 8.

Also in the hospital, rccov'erlngj The surviving members of the from smoke inhalation Is Thomas Stone family are Norman, 12; RUINS WHERE FOUR DIED ItSLewis, 32, in whose basement Leslie, and Russell. 17. The Iff apartment the fire started. two younger boys are in Highland After Russell Stone fled the. General Hospital.

Russell Is a passerby. Carroll Cope- now staying with an uncle, A. E. ftland. helped stop the bleeding of.poole of 1120 Juniper, ggpfhis right arm.

The Stone's are also survived by 1 "None of those victims may a daughter, Mrs. Bobby Ray mve ever felt the flames," Pam-r Braley of a as Chief Ernest Win torne A Rgd Wflrker wU be today. "They probably all Pa tnlg week to coordlnate llftocated before the flames reached re tm whQ fthem. All you need is one nhala- wefe homeless by tne re of that super-heated air, the Tne Pampa Re(1 cross today sent pushes forward and out ftn flppeal funda tQ a tnft Fireman Charles Everett, standing in the 'charred, still warm ruins of the third floor, points out the spot, Sunday morning, where four members of the Lewis Stone family died. They were Mr.

and Mrs. Stone, Betty Stone, 20, and Kenneth Stone, S. At left are the double doors of the Stone apartment, and to Everett's right is a single doorway through which the Stones attempted to reach the hallway and a rear exit. (Daily News Fire Photos by Marv Oisen) A Night of Horror Is Relived by Mgr. (EDITOR'S NOTE; Her right hand bandaged from bums, her hair singed by heat and through eyes brimmed with tears, Airs.

Sarah Matficld, manager of the ill- fated Oilking Apartments told this story in a steady voice during an interview Sunday morning with Daily News Managing Editor, Rick fezdirta) It was just like any other Saturday night. I tfent to bed about 9:30 and re-read an old novel until 11:30 when I switched off the lights. The next thing I remember, was being awakened by that big police officer Ralph Almquist) at about 2 a.m.. He was pounding on my door, and when I answered, he told me to hurry and get dressed, and that there was a fire. I didn't see any smoke then, and calmly returned my bedroom, put on a hduse-coat, grabbed my purse and a little plastic box with my ring in it off a table, and returned to the half.

This time, when I stepped into the hallway, there was thick smoke all over. The officer had called the fire and police department from my apartment and I learned later other officer (Dave Cathey) had driven over to the fire department about four blocks away to get help. Those two men (Almquist and Calhey) saved our lives. If it hadn't of been lot them, we'd all maybe died. They ought to do something nice for those two officers.

That smoke was so bad when I stepped into the hallway, It made my eyes smart right off, and I had to feel my way down the mall boxes on the opposite wall from my apartment on the first floor. I managed to grope my way out to the back door beneath that big: balcony after I screamed to John Davis who lives just across the hall from me to get out quick. He did scramble from the build- Ing someway. I don't know how. It was all pretty confusing.

He told pin later on the outside he was a real sound sleeper and might not have gotten out had he not heard my screams. When I safe outside, I realized there were others still upstairs on the third floor, so I raced up that metal stairway onto the balcony and knocked upon a door leading into the third floor. The heat and smoke kept slamming door shut, so I broke some of the windows in it. Mr. and Mrs, Jerry only moved'--in two days earlier, both climbed out a window onto the balcony and they were a little overcome by the smoka.

Mr. Jones, who loat his billfold while making his escape, told me had beat on the door of of third floor tenants before he had to retreat, from smoke. He hollered at me not to go into the hallway, but I had to try to help the people I knew were'still iSpiungs will collapse." 1 from Duenkel-Car- IW'lmlchMl Funeral Home removed SSSftha tragic cargo of blanket-cov- iSflired bodies from the disaster Iliicene. rfef Pampa police officer Bill Robin- rfeflion questioned Lewis briefly Sun- kwday and Chief Wtnborne talked pSwith Lewia today. Briefly here Is Iftlfthe atory Lewis told Lw rj A A In Da mna a Hrtllt survivors of the Stone family and also the six other families Involved In the catastrophe, The Red Cross will meet all needs that the community does not take care of, Libby Shotwell, executive secretary, stated today.

This will include hospitalization, funeral expenses and the replace(Sea KITK8, Page 3) Jail Fire Kills 8, Injures 15 Others Ry OAR KAGAXOWTCH United Press International TOMS RIVER, N.J, flash fire of unknown origin turned an overcrowded county jail Into a panic-ridden inferno Sunday, killing' eight prisoners trapped In their cells and Injur- ing 15 others. The blaze broke out unexplaln- ably in the padded cell of General Petersen, 35, of Philadelphia, who had been brought here after wrecking a cell at the municipal jail in nearhy I.akewood. He tiled in the holocaust that enveloped Saturday by bus and given Ilodging at the Gllking Apartment the manager, Mrs. Sarah Hatfield, who also escaped the blaze Ijvith only a burned right hand and inged hair and eye brows. Lewis admitted he had been Idnking in a downtown tavern most the night and telephoned for a from a hotel about 11:30.

In- said Lewis could not he called from or fjyhat taxi he summoned to take home, fter he went lo bed, awoke discovered a chair in his room fire. Despite a. kitchen sink Jfef jng only a few feet away, Lewis Muhcd all the way down tq the end of the hall to fill a pan water from a rest room, he got back to his room the fire had spread to a nearby Jl. After unsuccessfully trying it out with his shirt, Lewis but failed in an at. pt to awaken Mrs- Hattteld.

apartment manager 19ST. Lewis couldn't arouse Mrs. field he raced outside ran and down Qillespte Street In of a ajarro box. He also told assistant fire L. V.

Bruce, a up smoking and was using the a Jar for an asb tray. remembered bringing home ot beer in the taxi but nevW found ft or any cans- Piemen did find a of empty bottles, but his cell and grew in Intensity as it fed on the foam rubber and canvas padding. Jail officials said Petersen had not been allowed to carry matches, but that someone could have slipped him a lighted cigarette. The Itiam rubber and canvas paiininj; stoked Hie fire and spewed tlanif.s in all directions like a flame-thrower, eyewil- said. Only (irniintl Floor The two-story jail housed 6ft inmates although built to arrommo- dale only 28.

had only a ground i exit. I Seven prisoners in an adjoining cell block perished in inferno I without ever getting out of their jquarters. Besides Petersen, victims ami Ihe charges against 'them were: Stephan T. Wolf 30, of jManasquan, former Linden, N.J. i policeman charged, with passing ibad checks; William Charles Leh- 1 matin.

21, of Toledo, Ohio, a sailor stationed at Lakehurst Naval Air Station, charged with forgery; Adam Bodzan, 42, of Atlantic City, N.J., disorderly person, sentenced to 90 days; Calvin inside. I got about six feel down the hall and it was when I tried to turn on a light, I burned my hand. The heat was unbearable. I Just couldn't go any further. They said they found Gary Stone (one of the fire's five victims) only four more feet down the hall.

I'll never know if was there or not when I was In the hall. The smoke was so bad, you couldn't see a half-foot In front of your face, I kept screaming for the Stones to get out, and when I got back to the doorway leading onto the balcony, Russell Stone, 17, almost knocked me down as he came running out. He cut his arm I think when smashed into thi glass In door, I stayed round outside of the apart mem house until about i a.m. when they took me to lha hospital. My doctor wouldn't let nit; leave the hospital for after treatment, knowing 1 have a.

INFKRNO. 1) 32 MEN FOUGHT BLAZE Thirty-two Pampa firemen answered an alarm sounded at a.m. Sunday. The tire had already raced out of hand when they arrived. Manning an inch-and-one-half hose at the building's front: wore Ray Fischer and Bob Hulsey.

The fire, which began in the basement, reached the third floor via an elevator shaft. (Daily News Photo) Wilson Letts, 19, IN.J., fodomy, of Cedar Run, and carnal 'abuse; Thomas Arthur Hughes, i 38. Philadelphia, forgery; Joseph Booker, 45, of Hartley, larceny; and Richarcj Cavalier, of Xuekmon, N.J,, charged with the fatal beating of 22-month jold daughter, Deborah. Cluttered (a Cell All except Bodjan awaiting grand Jury action or trial. Tlie 14' bodies found clustered in fcU btacfe feet from cell.

Firemen Bill Crane pa WHIRI THI 1RI and gJmer Lewis attempted to feeat out watef into flgmcs later ran to find 9, fire alarm ThoiTWli Photo wif Uken about tin had Shooting and Robbery Mark Wild Weekend An accidental shooting, an with the robbery wareiof from tlO to at gunpoint, and ed robbery, two burglaries and two Clarence (Popcorn) Nelson, to "gel away fast." Nelson Amarillo; Lepolean Sullivan. 24. was given a "beating" by 4 thefts marked one of this i y'a most hectic weekends, Police Chief Jim Conner reported this morning. In Highland General Hospital suffering a. shooting is Oklahoma.

Held by police for lawfully carrying firearnu is John flesh wound from Ethel Watie, the 632 un- R. 810 Conner said shooting occurred shortly after midnight Saturday in a car driven by Morgan. Morgan, arrested at a.m. Sunday at Highland, said Watie was accidentiy shot when the two scuffled for gun which had been left in thf car'i fiovf compartment. Police Chief Conner and Texas Ranger Bill Henslee investigated and soon determined that Nelson, Pampa; and A.

G. Ford, Pampa. land Sullivan and left behind. According to police, the robbery was reported at 3:20 a-m. Sunday by John C.

Edge, 23, Harriett Rooms, and Gene Baker, 24, 723 i Ford E. Campbell. jtearn Edge and Baker told police admitted their parts in thf early Sunday morning they drove two have signed to the south part of Pampa looking for friend. They across car, driven by Nelson, which and Splivan worked is A in robbery. All thret had stalled, and gave Nelson's car a push.

Nelson in turn offered to help Edge aid Baker find, their friend. Nelson led them into the Legiun walked into MiS4 Watif, shot in conferred with wo We, pact of hff left nor t'oiu. under suspicion ously wcujided. Ntiaon leluiitea lo Uit cite The "armed robbery" UivoJved thereafter Foj'd. artaed; well, dfivipjf a statements.

Conner Hid that they will charged with although the pistol wielded by Fort, only shot blanks. A burglary at ths Steer-inn, lit Bivwn early Saturday mornlnj requited in the ot ITS, roid tigars and in (teft) of a.ppco»< burned to death, they colored men aud two whitesmith blank pistol, Seven cwber prtsan.eis, behind tbj firemen s.n4 a sailor who iaced on S. inferno lo help aftampfiw in 8 no Sullivan inn's tfloaty QB a Uif WM inlormed ti ft that "I Chief wtw.