The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1923-09-13
GIRL IS HEROINE
IN FIRE DANGER
Vera Leonard Displayed Great Brav-
cry and Presence of Mind in
Rescuing Young Child
From Flaming Home

From Flaming Home
One of the finest examples of
bravery and cool-headed action in
an emergency occurred last Satur-
day during the fire that partially de-
stroyed the residence of H. M.
Leonard at Sixth and Lay streets.
The fire, which was caused by the
explosion of an oil-burning appar-
atus installed in the kitchen stove,
happened while Mrs. Leonard was
getting breakfast. With her in the
kitchen was her little four-year-old
niece, June Guthrie.
When the burning oil, scattered
by the explosion, struck Mrs. Leon
ard in the face, temporarily binding
her and singeing her hair, she called
to June to run out of the kitchen
and then gropingly stumbled her
way out of the kitchen door to the
yard. :.
Little June obeyed her orders to
run out of the kitchen, but instead
Of running out of doors she ran into
the dining room adjoining the
kitchen. There, bewildered and
choking with the fumes from the
burning oil that spread rapidly
through the entire house, she waited
for "Auntie" to tell her what to
do next.
Meanwhile Mrs. Leonard, after
reaching the yard, discovered that
June was not with her, and realizing
that the little tot must have taken
refuge in the dining room, she
rushed frantically to the front door,
which opened into the parlor and
from that to the dining room, she
discovered to her horror that the
front door was locked.
At this moment Vera Leonard,
youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
H. M. Leonard, discoveredd that one
of the windows of the front bed
rom was open, but the opening was
covered with a wire screen. With
the strength that sometimes comes
to one at a time of great need or
of excitement, she tore the screen
from its fastenings and climbed
through the window.
Holding her breath to keep from
strangling from the smoke, she
stumbled through the bedroom into
the dining room, where she dscov-
cred little June half strangled from
the smoke but confidently waiting
for someone to come for her. Gasp
ing and choking for breath, Vera
gathered little June into her arms
and fought her way to the front
door. Reaching it she had just
strength enough to unlock it and
push the little form out to waiting
arms and then collapsed across the
threshold of the door. Tender and
loving arms reached in and dragged
her to safety and the glorious fresh
sweet air. In a few mmoents her
lungs were cleared of the smoke she
had inhaled and she was soon all
right and anxiously inquiring of the
safety of the little girl she had SO
heroically risked her life to save.
Assured on this point she, for the
first time since the start of the fire,
turned her attention to saving her
own treasured belongings which
were threatened by the flames.
After Vera Leonard had plunged
into the smoke-laden bedroom in
the attempt to save little June, Hor-
ace Adams, 16-year-old youth living
next door to the Leonard home,
watched anxiously for her to re-
appear. AS minute after minute
stretching seemingly to hours
went by, and she did not come back,
Horace climbed through the window
into the smoke-filled room which
had swallowed Vera, determined to
rescue her. He was quickly fol-
lowed by Bruce Hubbard, youngest
son of Mrs. L.. D. Hubbard, who also
dared to risk smoke and flame for
the life of fellow being.
As Vera had already found the
little girl and had taken her out
side by the front door the boys
missed finding them and finally got
to the front door themselves.
Young Hubbard was so overcome
with the smoke that he had to be
dragged to safety, but soon recov-