Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1949-05-20
YOUTHFUL father
IS HERO in Big FIRE
Robert Havener Dies In
Flames AS Four Others
Are Burned Saturday

Heroic efforts of a young faith
er saved the lives of his wife and
two young daughters early Satur-
day morning when fire of unde
termined origin destroyed the
Havener homestead in Gypsum
and brought death to Charles Rob
ert Havener, 21.
Hero of the fire was Joseph
Mascara, 27, brother-in-law of Rob-
er, who with his family was
asleep in the second floor of the
frame house when the fire broke
out.
Smelling smoke Mascara rushed
downstairs to discover the front
room was burning furiously. His
wife, Ruth, had followed him
downstairs. While he ran to get
pail of water, Mascara shout
, ed to his wife to rescue their
daughters, Linda, five, and Janet,
two, who were sleeping in the
same upstairs room.
After Mascara had thrown wat
Ell on the fire, he saw it was too
intense to fight alone. Heat of
the fire was so severe that he had
to stand back several feet to throw
water on the blaze.
Mascara climbed upstairs via
the roof and rescued the five-year
old daughter, Linda. She was not
injured. When he ran around the
house to the front, his wife was
. still inside.
He pulled Mrs. Mascara through
window and asked "Where's ia
net t?" The young mother was in
pain from her burns and hysteri-
cal and it was several seconds be-
fore she could answer, 81 dropped
her in the front ROOM.
Mascara again entered the burn
ing room, found the two-year-old
baby and carried her to safety.
Later Mrs. Mascara said that she
had stumbled and fallen, and had
dropped the baby as she tried to
run through the burning room.
Alfred Hap" Havener, 32,
brother of Mrs. Mascara and Rob-
ert Havener, was also asleep in
the second floor. He made his way
safely downstairs, but was injur-
ed when he evidently plunged
through window. "Hap" told
relatives he escaped through a
door, but the Mascaris saw no one
come out the door.
AS the youngest member of the
family, Harold Havener, was not
at home during the fire, everyone
was accounted for excepting
Charles Robert Havener, FL.
Local fremen were called to
fight the fire at 2:29. The house
was beyond saving and burned te
the ground. Debris smouldered
over the weekend.
Roberts fate was not known
for several hours. Shortly before
S a. m., Roberts body was discov.
cred by local firemen, who report.
ed it was lying three feet from
the front door, face down on the
floor. The body was nearly de.
stroyed by the fire. Coroner
George Poe returned a verdict OF
accidental death.
Mascara was given emergency
treatment at Magruder Hospita
for burns on his feet. He ant
Linda, who escaped injuries, are
living with relatives this week.
Under treatment in the hos
pital are Mrs. Ruth Mascara, wht
has second degree burns on, face
abdomen and legs; Alfred Hap
Havener, whose numerous cuts
were closed with so sutures; ant
Janet Mascara, two, who suffer
ed facial and hand burns. Theil
. conditions are reported as improv
ed.
Local fremen estimated loss O,
house and contents at $4,000. The
loss was covered by insurance
All personal clothing and furni
ture were lost in the fire anc
drives are underway to help tn,
victims.