The Bismarck tribune., 1931-12-16
HEROISM OF Third
MAY PROVE FATAL
PHYSICIANS ASSERT
Explosion Resulting From Use
of Kerosene Blamed For
Minnesota Tragedy
WE'RE STUDENTS
Girls, Daughters Of Farm Par
ents, Attended High School
at Milaca

Milaca, Mimi, Dec. 16.-(P)-Two
young girls were burned to death and
a third was probably fatally burned
when fire swept their small second
floor room In a private home here
Wednesday.
The dead are Myrtle Halberg. Il,
Milaca high school sophomore, and
her sister. Alice Halberg, 16, junior,
whose parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Gust
Halberg, live six miles north of Mi
laca.
Annie Lamprecht, 10, high school
junior. was believed dying In q Prince
ton hospital She was burned badly
about the face, hands, neck, should
er and back after vain effort to
save her room mates.
Physicians at q Princeton hospital.
to which Miss Lamprecht was remov-
ed, said amputation OF her hands
may be necessary. She Is the daugh-
ter Of Mr.. and Mrs. August Lam.
precht, residing seven miles south Of
Milaca.
Miss Lamprecht and the younger
Halberg girl were sleeping when sud-
denly an explosion occurred while
Alice Halbert was pouring kerosene
In the small wood stove preparatory
to making breakfast.
Awakened BY Blast
Awakened by the blast, Miss LAM
precht noticed her room-mate ablaze
from head to foot. She jumped from
her bed and tugged at the younger
sister as she did 50.
Meanwhile, the flames gradually
were sweeping through the room to-
ward the door. Miss Lamprecht took
the blankets from the bed and
wrapped them around Alice, mean
while calling to Myrtle to open the
door.
The two started toward the door
but sheet OF flame soon cut Oft their
escape, SO they changed their course
toward the window.
Get the window open," Miss Lamp.
recht shouted as she half f-carried tho
blazing girl In her arms, disregarding
the flames which crept around her
own body.
But the flames ignited the clothing
of the youngest girl and she collapsed
before she reached the window.
The Lamprecht girl managed to
reach the window with her roommate.
She plunged her fist through the
glass but as she did so, the girl
dropped to the floor.
Still unmindful Of the flames which
by this time had enveloped the entire
room, she attempted to raise the Hal
berg girl to the window.
Workmen Sec Flames
Nick Swanson. while on his way 70
work, saw the blazing upper part Of
the Elmer Gardiner home. Hearing
the screams OF the Lamprecht girl, he
ran for a ladder which he knew was
kept q few yards from the Gardiner
home.
Climbing up the ladder as the
flames were shooting from the win
dow. he reached the trapped girls. He
seized Miss Lamprecht, who was un-
conscious, and carried her to safety.
The Milaca fire department arrived
at the scene as Swanson carried the
girl down the ladder.
The fire fighters. unable to enter
the room either through the second
floor door or the window because OF
the shooting flames. poured streams
of water into the room.
The blaze was checked In q few
minutes and firemen entered the
room. The two girls were on the
floor, burned to death.
MIR. and Mrs. Gardiner and several
children, meanwhile, ran from the
house but were helpless to aid In res
cuing the girls.
H. T. Norrgard, Mile Lacs county
coroner, said no inquest would b
held.