The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1921-04-28
MOTHER and CHILD
PERISH in FLAMES
Mrs. Arthur Dale and Five Weeks Old
Infant Burned In Early Morning
Fire ut Rec Heights

place early Wednesday morning, when
Mrs. Arthur Dale and her five weeks
old daughter of Rec Heights burned to
death and their dwelling house was to-
tally destroyed by fire.
The story of the tragedy, as told by
Mr.. Dale, the only one to escape the
burning house, was that upon return
ing home after attending a show in the
evening, it was found that the fire in
their base burner was low, and the
house was chilly. Mrs Dale began to
build the fire up by pouring kerosene
on it. He however, prevented her from
doing this, telling her to light some
papers, before pouring the kerosene on
the Goals. The fire was started in this
manner. Shortly after, the family re-
tired. The baby was left in a basket
near the stove.
About -four o'clock in the morning,
Mr.. Dale said, they were awakened by
the crying of the baby. Mrs. Dale got
up to bring the baby to the bed, but
before doing so, she stopped to nurse
the infant. Meanwhile, Mr.. Dale drop
ped off to sleep again. The next thing
he heard was an explosion and the
screams of his wife. He jumped from
the bed and was met with a rush of
flame from the other room, and upon
reaching the door saw his wife com
pletely enveloped in flames. He re-
turned to the bedroom for a blanket,
and rushed to throw ii around Mrs.
Dale and the baby, but in the confu-
sion, he lost hold of the baby, and was
unable to recover it. He managed to
cot hic xyifn fn on aact door xuhinh uay
locked and after several futile at
tempts to unlock the door, gave it up,
and ran to the south door, which was
blocked by a library table He moved
the table, and tore open the door, but
by that time the room was entirely
filed with flames, and it was impos-
sible for him to reach Mrs. Dale.
Mr.. Dale then ran around the house
to the other door and tried to kick it
in, and managed to break in a panel.
A travelling man, Thos. f. eastman,
who was rooming next door, was at
tracted by Dale's cries for help, and
ran to his assistance. Mr.. eastman
kicked i'm the door, but was net by a
rush of flame and was unable to enter
the house. He then ran to a window,
but with the same result, the whole
interio. of the building being a mass
flames.
= Mr.. Dale was quite severely burned
about his head and arms, the rest of
his body being protected by a heavy
suit of underwear. 1t is not thought
the burns will prove serious.
Although the exact cause of the fire
is not known, il is thought that it was
caused by an attempt by Mrs. Dale TO
rekindle the fire by pouring kerosene
on the Goals, the gas causing the ex-
plosion.
DR.. j.. f. Paddleford, coroner for
Hand county, was called about s
o'clock, and accompanied by States At
torncy John Pusey departed for Rec
Heights
After arriving at the scene of trag-
edy, it was decided to hold an inquest,
and about thirty witnesses were sub
poened and examined. The following
verdict was rendered by the jury:
An Inquisition holden at Rec Heights
Opera House, Rec Heights, S. d., in
Hand County, State of South Dakota
on the 9th day of April A. d., 1921,
before J. F. Paddleford, Coroner of
said County, upon the bodies of Alta l..
Dale and EleanoT Dale, her child, there
lying dead, by the Jurors whose names
are hereto subscribed, the said Jurors
upon their oaths do say that Alta l..
Dale and her five weeks old daughter
Eleanor Dale, came to their deaths, on
Wednesday morning, the 9th day of
April, 1921, at the town of Rec Heights
Hand County, State of South Dakota
by reason of the burning of the dwell
ing house in which they lived in said
County, Town and State.
Your Jurors are unable to find from
the testimony abducted at this hearing
what person or persons were response
BILE for the origin of the fire above re-
ferred to.
In Testimony Whereof, The said Ju-
rors have hereunto set their hands,
the day and year aforesaid.
H. HI. Wareing,
j. G. Gardiner, Jurors
F. r. Gardiner,
Attest: J. F. Paddleford,
Coroner of Hand County,
Mr.. and Mrs. Dale are well-known
at Miller. Mrs. Dale was born and
raised to ~womanhood in this city and
was formerly Miss Alta Shonbrun,
youngest daughter of Mrs. E. Howe,
who now lives south of Rec Heights.
Mr.. Dale was at one time employed at
the Peterson Garage, but about a year
ago, went into business for himself at
Rec Heights. They had been married
about three years Mrs. Dale was
twenty-five years of age.
In this untimely ending Of two young
lives, the sympathy of the entire COM
munity Is extended to the stricken rel
atiyes.