MOTHER, CHILDREN DIE IN FLAMES

Benson Fire

MOTHER, CHILDREN DIE IN FLAMES

Hillsboro Times-Gazette, Greenfield edition, Greenfield OH

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Without a doubt, Friday night, Jan. 9, marked one of Greenfield's most tragic hours. Never has any event or events caused more sympathy or anxiety than was caused by this terrible, un-thought-of catastrophe. After a hard day's work Mrs. Harriet Benson, the widowed mother of eleven children, tucked four school children to bed and then she herself lay down to rest, anticipating another day with all it means for a widowed mother. She lay down and soon fell to sleep for the meals for the morrow were practically prepared and her four youngest children were at home and peacefully sleeping in the little home that she had labored so hard to secure and sustain. But Mrs. Benson didn't go to work the next morning, neither did Luverll, Alice, or John answer to the roll call in school today, for the hand of death was knocking at the door while they were sleeping and entered silently and took four souls to the other land.

I shall place an extra rose on the casket of Luverll for she gave her life in trying to rescue the mother she loved. Awakening from sleep with flames leaping all round, she threw Francis through the window, and said "I must go back and get mother," but her strength was exhausted and she gave her life for others.

Harriet, daughter of Alexander and Lillie Spurgeon was born in Pike county, Ohio, May 18, 1892 and departed this life Jan. 9, 1942. In 1909 she married Charles Benson who preceded her in death March 14, 1941. Eleven children were born to this union and until the time of this tragedy all were living: Rosa Clouser, Ethel Calvin, Goldie Wilson, Iva Manns, Cecil, Harley, Artie, and Francis survive. Besides her children she leaves her mother, a brother, Lafe Spurgeon of Humbolt, three sisters, Mrs. Cora Huffman of Fruitdale, Mrs. Rena Ryan of Cynthiana, and Mrs. Nora Hester of South Salem. Also nine grandchildren are left behind.

Mrs. Benson was honest and upright, a splendid mother, a good neighbor, and true to the trusts that were hers.

Luveril Lorn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Benson was born at South Salem May 11, 1928, and died while attempting to rescue her mother and sisters and brother from their burning home. She was 13 yrs. 7 mo. and 28 da. old. She was a very beautiful girl and well liked by all. She attended the South Salem public schools and enrolled in the Greenfield schools three years ago when the family moved to their Greenfield residence. She was in the first year of high school.

Alice Josephine, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Benson was born at South Salem May 19, 1931 and was fatally burned Jan. 9, 1942. She was 11 yrs. 7 mo. and 20 days old. She attended Greenfield school.

John Henry was also born at South Salem. He was the baby of the family, being born May 27, 1935. He was 6 yrs. 7 mo. and 12 da. old. The little fellow was just a beginner in school. He is now safe in the arms of Jesus where houses never burn and sorrow can never come."

 


MOTHER, CHILDREN DIE IN FLAMES. TRAPPED IN SMALL FRAME HOUSE IN HIGGINSVILLE FRIDAY NIGHT.

Fourth Child Escapes By Smashing Window Glass; Fire Believed To Have Spread Following Explosion.

Funeral services were conducted this afternoon for Mrs. Harriett Benson, 48, and her three children who were burned to death when fire swept their small home in Higginsville, Friday night.

Rev. Franklin Norris read the funeral in United Brethren church this afternoon at 2 o'clock. Interment was made in Greenfield cemetery by R.B. Walker.

The dead children: Alice Josephine, 12; Luverll, 14, and John, 7.

From a maze of theories as to the cause of the fire, Chief Dean Irwin of the Greenfield Fire Department has substantiated the opinion he expressed Friday night that an explosion sprayed the house with flames which spread so rapidly that Mrs. Benson and three children were hopelessly trapped before neighbors were even aware of the blaze.

ONE GIRL ESCAPES.

Another daughter, Frances, 12, smashed glass from a window to crawl through to safety. She was found in the rear yard of the home by her brother-in-law, Charles Clouser, who lives about 100 feet north of the Benson place. Her night clothing had been partially burned from her body and she suffered severely from shock and from exposure in the near-zero temperature.

As nearly as can be ascertained, the fire broke out about 10:15 o'clock just about the time the Louis-Baer championship fight broadcast started.

SAW HOUSE CAVE IN.

According to Clouser, he and Charles Watts, whose home is directly across the street west of the Benson property, and "several other neighbors had just turned on the radio to listen to the fight. The Missus (Mrs. Clouser) and the young ones had gone to bed. The first we knew of the fire was when Mose Watts (son of Charles Watts) came rushing over hollering:

"My God, the house is on fire!"

"I didn't know whether he meant ours or theirs. When I opened the door and looked out, the second floor (of the Benson house) was just caving in. We all ran out and one of the boys (Clouser didn't identify him) tried to get in the kitchen door but was forced back by the fire. There just wasn't anything anyone could do then."

Harry Willett, whose home is across a field southeast of the Benson place, told The Times that "I was awakened by screaming and hollering. As soon as I opened my eyes I saw the light shining through my window and said to my wife: 'That's a big fire,' and I told her to get the children up and dress them."

Willett said he could not believe that the fire had started from defective wiring, a theory expressed by Clouser, because "Mrs. Benson bought all new wiring and I installed it. There was nothing wrong with that".

EXPLOSION REPORTED.

Fire Chief Irwin told The Times at the scene Friday night that "neighbors report having heard an explosion," and pointed out in support of that contention that most of the window glass in the house had been blown outward.

The small one and one-half story residence was constructed of lumber and lined with cardboard which probably accounted for the fast spread of the flames.

The north side of the house was partioned into two bedrooms. One body was removed from the northwest room, the other three, including Mrs. Benson's, from the northeast room.

Frances is believed to have been sleeping in the northwest room.

A heating stove in the southeast room was crumpled as though it might have exploded. The kitchen range remained intact.

Higginsville lacks a water system and Greenfield firemen refilled the 200-gallon auxiliary tank on the small pumper three times at the hydrant at the junction of Lyndon ave. with Seventh st. more than a half mile distant.

They saved a smaller house just a few feet north of the Benson home, and as the fire burned down sprayed the debris until the bodies could be removed.

Sheriff Cleo Shaffer and Dr. W. M. Hoyt, Highland county coroner, were summoned from Hillsboro and supervised removal of the bodies by firemen.

The sheriff and coroner assigned the bodies to the R. B. Walker Funeral Home.

 

BURNED LIKE TINDER.

The entire house burned to the ground within an estimated 30 minutes.

The reflection from the fire could be seen for a considerable distance and attracted many residents from Greenfield and rural areas. Fans returning from the basketball game at Hillsboro saw the fire from a distance of several miles.

One supposition as to the origin of the fires, voiced by many of the spectators was that it had started from an overheated stove. However, surviving members of the family declared that their mother was always careful to see that the stove fire had died out before retiring.

A son, Harley, 19, said that a jug containing some coal oil had stood near the heating stove but firemen expressed doubt that it could have become hot enough to explode.

Some neighbors said that the Bensons had obtained some slack coal and thought it might have caused the explosion.

Because of the complete destruction of the house and virtually all of the contents, it is likely that exact origin of the blaze will never be determined.

Two other sons, Cecil, 21, and Artie, 13, in addition to Harley, said they used kindling wood most of the time as cooking and heating fuel.

None of the three older boys was at home when the fire broke out.

Charles Clouser told The Times that after he had found Frances in the rear yard of the Benson place, he took her to his home and then she and Mrs. Clouser and the Clouser children went to the B. & O. tracks a short distance from the Clouser home and sat together there. It had previously been reported that Frances was found wandering along the tracks.

CLOTHING OBTAINED.

Frances was brought to a physician's office and treated for a glass puncture in her hand. Albert F. Strueve of Clouser & Co., who was called by the Clousers, contacted Hy Tennenbaum and they obtained clothing for the girl at United Department Store, later taking her back to the Clouser home.

Frances was unable to give a coherent account of how she escaped from the house.

Mrs. Benson was the widow of Charles H. Benson who died at the age of 70 last March 14. The family moved to Higginsville from Pricer's Ridge about four years ago, and the father and the boys built the home that burned about two years ago.

Mrs. Benson's birth date was May 5, 1893.

Alice Josephine was born May 19, 1931; Luverll, May 11, 1927, and John, the youngest child in the family, May 27, 1935.

Frances will be 13 next Feb. 27.

In addition to the three sons and daughter Frances, four other daughters of the family survive.

Mrs. Charles Clouser, Mrs. Bryan Calvin and Mrs. Goldie Wilson, all of Higginsville, and Mrs. Iva Manns of Springfield.

Higginsville residents today asked The Times to express that community's thanks to Greenfield firemen, to Strueve and Walker, and to Rev. Franklin Norris.

Within an hour Saturday, Rev. Norris collected more than $27 needed to pay for burial lots in Greenfield cemetery. He said he "passed the hat" in downtown Greenfield.