The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1942-11-19
TWO BLUFFTON
BOYS PERISH IN
BLAZING BARN
Eugene Bracy, 4, and George
Preto, Jr., 3, Die as Herr
mann Barn Burns
Community is Stunned by
Double Tragedy Here Mon
day Afternoon

Bluffton was stunned by double
tragedy Monday when two small
boys lost their lives in blazing
barn on the property tenanted by
Mr.. and Mrs. George Preto, on the
corner of Washington and Thurman
streets, about $40 o'clock in the
afternoon.
The boys were: George Preto, Jr.,
3, and Eugene Bracy, a, son of Mr..
and Mrs. Homer Bracy of North
Main street.
Coroner's Verdict
A verdict of accidental death was
given by Coroner Harry Lewis of
Lima. Fire Chief Guy Corson said
that the children may have been
playing with matches. Contents of
the barn consisted of old orange
crates and excelsior.
These were located near the door
facing the house, where it is believed
the boys gained entrance to the
barn. Two doors facing the alley,
which could have made possible
escape, were too large and unwieldy
for the boys to handle.
The bodies, burned beyond recog-
milton, were found near the sliding
door facing the alley which would in
dicate that the children may have
sought escape at this door when
they found their exit blocked by
flames at the door from which they
entered the building.
The blaze started shortly after
the two boys entered the barn. The
Bracy youth awakened about the
middle of the afternoon from a nap
and left the house apparently to
look up his playmate. The hire
alarm, it is said, sounded about
fifteen minutes after he left the
house. ss...s.s.sss.ssssa4a.ss.s.s.
Not Missed AT First
The boys were not missed until
Mrs. Bracy, who lives on the corner
of Washington and Main streets
saw the blaze. She hurried to the
structure and after succeeding in
opening one of the doors of the barr
was burned as the flames leaped out
a. her.
BY this time the barn was 8
blazing inferno and it was impos
sible to enter because of the in
tense heat. The mothers were not
certain that their boys were in the
barn until search after the building
had burned revealed their bodies il
the embers. The bodies were founc
face down and it is believed they
met death by suffocation.
Thepblaze was first seen by Johr
Steiner of Thurman street and Chas
Lloyd, manager of The Boss Glove
Co., who sent in the alarm to tht
Bluffton fire department. The fir'
truck succeeded in preventing spread
of the flames and saving surround
ing buildings.
Too Much Headway
Too much headway had been gain
ed in the blaze to save the barn o.
to effect a rescue of the boys though
at the time to have been inside, j
was reported.
In addition to the barn, a she,
a corn crib, a chicken coop and sew
eral telephone poles burned. The Wn
Clark garage on the adjoining 10
on Main street owned by VIM
Leiber, was partially burned an
Clark's automobile inside was dam
aged.
Sparks caused a number of roo
fires in the vicinity and the neigh
bors were kept busy putting ou
small fires on their premises. @
IiiGy SlIc6l, HlOIc lIidH oioe
away, a fire started on the Frederic
Tschantz barn.
Electric current and telephon
service in the area of the fire wa
interrupted Tuesday night becaus
of wires down due to the confiagrs
tion. Service was resumed after ten
porary repairs were made.
Called From Work
Fathers of both of the boys wel
at work and were called when I'll
tragedy was revealed. Preto is en-
ployed as telegraph line maintei
ance man for the A. c. & Y. raj
road and Bracy works at Il
Superior Body company in Lima.
Identification was established |
the unburned clothing under Il
bodies.
The body of the Bracy boy was ia
en- to the Stanley Basinger Funer
home and was returned to the res
dence Wednesday morning.
Funeral services will be held
Continued on page 81