The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1913-01-23
Ten Year Old Boy Enters Blazing
Building and Rescues Little
Brother and Sister from
Flames
PLEA OF MOTHER IS
UNHEEDED BY ELDERS
Young Hero is Seriously Burned
and May Die--Kerosene Can
ExplOdes in Attempt 10
Start Fire

Wichita, KAN Jan 23 Rushing i'm
to bis burning home after older peo-
pie had hesiated at Tie daring task,
Willie Patterson, aged 10, carried out
his baby brother and sister, last night.
Five children were badly burned
from oil nhich scattered flames over
them when an oil can exploded
The heroic little boy was 50 serl-
ously burned on his legs, arms and
other portions Of his body that he may
not recover
The children belong to Mr. and Mrs.
Perry Patterson, whose home at Hiram
and Lincoln streets, near the Orient
shops, was set on fire last night
The little boy and girl carried out
by their older brother were also badly
burned The other two children, un-
aided, ran ON. of the building III
flames.
Four Of the children were asleep in
bed near a stove about $3.50 o'clock
when Willie attempted to warm things
up by starting a fire with kerosene.
The can Of oil exploded, spreading
burning oil an over the room, and
scattering flames over the children.
His own clothes a mass Of flames,
Willie ran out OF the house towards
the grocery store OF Frank Martin,
where Mrs Patterson was buying gro
ceries As the boy ran, be took off
his burning shirt aud trousers.
His mother had heard the explosion
and was runLiag towards the house,
when she met the blazing boy. She
wrapped her coat around him and put
out the first in his remaining clothes.
Two OF the other four children, Otis,
II Years old and Myrtle, years old
came rushing from the burning house
with burning oil upon their faces and
hands. Neghbors seizel them and,
wrapping coats and other articles Of
clothing about them. managed to ex
tinguish the flames. The fire by this
time had completely enyeioped the
room. Suddenly Mrs. Patterson re
membered that her two smaller chill
dren. Ethel. four years old. ami
Frankie. 20 months old. were lying on
a bed in the room To ner agonized
plea that someone save her babies, nc
one responded or attempted TO enter
the building
Willie. VINO was standing by bis
mothers side shrtless and trouser
less, rushed into the house and int,
the burning bedroom whore the babies
were. SEEKING the smallest IN his arm.
and taking hold Of the hand of tbs
other, he half carried and led them
from the building
In this trip into the burning room
his underelothes caught afire, ans
when he emerged flames were al
around him. A second time the goa
Of his mother was utilized IN smoth
ering the flames.
The neighbors now got busy and
bucket brigade was formed to figh
ghs flames. which wero oxtinguishe
with great trouble. The oil had sprea.
over the various articles in the room
causing their entire destruction
DR. Nv G l.oomis, who was called
found that Willie, the boy who mad
/ the trip into the burning house TO saw
his sister and brother was burnt prae
tlcally all over. when his charre
clothes we're removed. skin and fles
came Off with them His injuries ar
serious, and may prove fatal oti.
the oldest boy, was burned about tn
face. Myrtle, The old gest girl wa
burned on the face, bot4 hands an
right loot Ethel four years old, va
burned on both hands and fac
Frankie, the baby, was burned on fas
and hands.
Mr. Patterson and family have resi-
ed in Wichita nine years. He is
teamster and was away looking for
Job when the accident happened at h
home His firss KNOWLEDGE Of It VI
when he returned to SO to bed II
family Is III rather poor circumstance
owing to the lack Of work.