The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1931-12-17
Two Girls Die
ThirdBurned,
Ruins Home
students Perish When Blast
Starts Conflagration in
Milaca Home
WOOD STOVE EXPLODES
One Fights in Vain to Save
Companions-May Die
From Injuries

Milaca, Mimi, Dec. 16-An ex-
plosion that wrecked the home of
Elmer Gardiner of Milaca today
cost the lives of two high school
girls, who roomed in the place, and
caused critical injuries to a third
girl who was burned before she
leaped from a second story win
dow.
s. Myrtle Halberg, IA years a MEM
Der Of the sophmore class in the
Milaca high school, and Alice Hal
berg, 16, junior, daughters of Mr..
and Mrs. Gust Halberg, farmers
living six miles north of here, are
dead. r
Annie Lamprecht, 10, also a stu
dent is blieved to be near death
in Princeton hospital, burned Sc
verely about the face, hands, shout
der and back after attempting to
save her roommates.
Physicians said amputation of
Miss Lamprecht's hands may be
necessary. She is the daughter of
Mr.. and Mrs. August Lamprecht,
residing seven miles south of Mi
laca.
The explosion occurred as Alice
Halberg poured kerosene in small
wood stove preparatory to making
breakfast. Miss Lamprecht and the
younger Halberg girl were still
asleep.
Awaken by the defamation, Miss
Lamprecht noticed her roommate
ablaze from head to foot. She
jumped from her bed and tugged
at the younger sister as she did so.
Meanwhile the flames gradually
were sweeping through the room
toward the door. Miss Lamprecht
took the blankets from the bed
and wrapped them around Alice,
meanwhile calling to Myrtle to
open the door. The two started to-
ward the door but a sheet of flame
cut off their escape so they chang
ed their course toward the window.
Get the window open" Miss
Lamphecht shouted as she had car
ried the blazing girl in her arms,
disregarding the flames which
crept around her own body.
But the flames ignited the cloth
ing of the youngest girl and she
collapsed before she reached the
window. The Lamprecht girl man
aged to reach the window with her
roommate. She drove her fist
through the glass, but as she did
SO the blazing girl dropped to the
floor. Still unmindful Of the flames
which by this time enveloped the
sentire room, she attempted to raise
tn Halberg girl to the window. ~
Nick Swanson, while on his way
to work, saw the blazing upper
part Of the Elmer Gardiner home.
Hearing the scream of the LAM
precht girl he ran for a ladder
which he knew was kept a few
yards from the Gardiner home.
Gliding up the rickety ladder as
the flames were shooting from the
window he risked his life to reach
the trapped girls. He grabbed Miss
Lamprecht as she dropped uncon-
scious, head protruding through
the window and carried her to
safety.
The Mica fire department ar
rived at the scene as Swanson car
ried 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 a few
minutes and firemen entered the
room. The two girls were on the
floor burned to death. The sisters
were a few feet apart.
Mr.. and Mrs. Gardiner and sew
eral children meanwhile ran from
the house but were helpless to aid
in recuing tie girls.
H. T. Notrgard. Mile Laos
county coroner, said no inquest
would be conducted. The girls were
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