The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1913-07-31
SON HAS NARROW ESCAPE
Father Uses Lighted Lantern to Aid
Him in Filling Gasoline Tank and
Explosion Which Followed Burnsa
Milk House and threatened Residence

G. c. Christensen, AZ years of age and
farmer residing three miles south of
the city on the Sand road, had mar
row escape from death Monday night
just after dark when a gasoline engine
used in the operation of a pump ex-
ploded Christensen was terribly burn
| ed, the milk house was completely
destroyed, and Charles Christensen, a
twelve year old son of the injured man
had miraculous escape from injury.
Christensen was burned about the head,
+, face, arms and neck. His hair was
burned from his head and the entire
upper portion of his body is a mass of
burns. DR.. P. P M. Jorgensen who is
attending him declared this afternoon
that he was hopeful that Christensen
would recover but he stated that his
condition was very grave. Presence of
mind saved Christensen from being
burned to death in the ruins of the
milk house, for just after the explosion
he dived into great tank of water
alongside of the ruined engine and tie
water put out the flames before his
clothing had been burned off and So yed
much of his body from being burned.
Christensen had reached his home just
after nightfall and had started the
gasoline engine to pump some water
for the milk tanks. After the engine
had been started he discovered that
there was no gasoline in the tank. He
attempted to pour the gasoline into the
tank, but could not see and called his
son who was playing about the build
ing to bring him lantern. The boy
brought the lighted lantern and handed
it to his father. The father lifted the
lantern up close to the funnel for the
gasoline and second later the explo-
sion took place. The little boy was
standing near window of the milk
house and the force of the explosion
threw him through the window and he
escaped practically uninjured.
In a second the entire milk house was
in flames. Christensen was bending
over the engine at the time of the ex-
plosion and the burning gasoline was
thrown all over his clothing. He
bought rapidly and saw his only chance
for life was in leaping into the big wa
ter tank. Later when the flames ON his
clothing had been extinguished he man
aged with the aid of the boy to get out
of the burning milk house and fell on
the. ground exhausted and suffering ter
ribly from the burns.
The boy in the meantime had sum-
moned help and farmers came from all
directions to fight the flames. Wet
blankets were thrown on the house and
the volunteer fire fighters abandoned
the milk house to its fate and gave all
their efforts to saving the house. The
house caught fire half dozen times
but it was saved. Christensen was car
ried to neighboring house and DR..
Jorgensen called to atterd him.
The escape of the boy who was
blown through the window is re-
yarded as miraculous. The little
fellow was busy carrying water to save
the house and it was declared that out
side of few bruises he was uninjured.
The loss from the fire which followed
the explosion will amount to more than
a thousand dollars. 1t was partially
covered by insurance. Christensen for
merly resided in Kenosha and was en-
ployed as a teamster by the o'Donnel
Coal Company.