Evening star., 1955-03-02
Dragging Tank
Blamed in Fire
On School Bus
1o Children Pulled
From BIozine Vehicle
In Silver Spring

JSoSSA0 0oJ . AAC III q oC1lOO1 Jus
taking 10 children to afternoon
kindergarten classes, firemen
said today.
The driver and the children
were pulled to safety by passing
motorists who smashed the bus
windows with their fists. None
was hurt in the fire, although
the three rescuers suffered hand
cuts when they broke the win
dows.
Tt was a miracle they got
out" the driver, Ambrose M.
Murphy. AZ. of 10111 McKenney
avenue, Silver Spring, Md, said
later, referring to the children.
God must have been with
them"
Burst Into Flame.
The bus was taking the chill
dren to classes at the st. Camil-
lus Parochial School, 1900 st,
Camillus drive, Silver Spring,
when it burst into flame about
lis pm. in the $500 block Of
New Hampshire avenue.
Firemen said supports on the
gas tank loosened, causing it to
sag to the ground. They said
apparently sparks from the fric-
tion OF the dragging tank
touched off the fire. Fresh
scratches, 261 feet long, were
found on the roadway back Of
the burned-out bus.
First to see the smoke and
flames rolling from under the
bus was Alfred L. Fleming, 81,
OF 1906 Overlook drive, Hillan-
dale, Md.
Mr.. Fleming. production man.
ager at the Government Print
ing Office, was driving south on
New Hampshire avenue and had
just passed Oakview drive when
he saw the burning bus.
"At first I thought it was an
abandoned bus on fire, but then
saw somebody guess it was
the driver-waving his arm out
the window" he said. II pulled
on farther. then stopped and
ran back"
Another Car Pulled Up.
At about that time, another
car. containing John H. Davis,
chief chef at the Cedarcroft
Sanitarium near Burtonsville.
Md. and Roland Semmens, 81,
Of San Bernardino. Calf, who
was visiting Mr.. Davis. pulled
to a stop.
II could hear the children
screaming" Mr.. Davis said. 1--WE
jumped out Of the car and I ran
to get hammer from my trunk.
But the trunk was locked and I
was too excited to get my keys,
SO we ran over to the bus"
Mr.. Davis and Mr.. Fleming be-
gan hammering at the bus VIM
dows with their fists. Mr.. Sem
mems said he first pulled MIR.
Murphy out through a small
window near the front of the bus.
Mr.. Sermons and Mr.. Davis said
MIR. Murphy was lodged half way
through the window.
Rescue Took Two Minutes.
The men said the rescue took
only about 2 minutes.
Mrs. Geol ge w. Stroud Of 1921
Parham road. Silver Spring,
witnessed the fire.
Il was standing at my kitchen
window and I saw the bus COM
ing down New Hampshire ave-
nue." she said. 80 I got my
son, Billy, he's sand we were
walking out to catch the bus.
Billy rides it to school every
afternoon.
I'VE were about rs yards from
the curb when saw clouds of
smoke coming from the bus.
Then I saw the flames.
i was paralyzed. When I
came to my senses, ran toward
the bus and saw two men help
ing the children out through the
windows. Then I discovered
that I'd lost my shoes. They
were setting side by side in the
mud where I was standing when
I saw the bus"
Il think most of the credit
should go to the children" Mr..
Fleming said. 1T was like they
were going through a drill" he
commented.
Mr.. Davis. a Navy veteran
with six years in the service,
credited his military training
with helping him keep his head.
None Was Hurt.
None Of the children was hurt.
After they were rescued they
were put into automobiles and
driven on to school by nearby
residents. Mr.. Fleming was
treated for hand cuts at the
Washington Sanitarium and re-
leased. Mr.. Davis and Mr.. Sem
mems were treated on the scene
by the Hillandale rescue squad,
The bus was one of two spe-
cially built vehicles delivered to
the Suburban Transit Co. of Sill
yer Spring less than a year ago.
Names Of the children released
by the school as being passengers
on the bus were jeanne Schine.
Nancy Willis, Dorothea White,
Simone Sickles, Catherine Nu-
gent. Kathleen Murphy, Beverley
Davidson, Mary Ellen Cavy.
Also, Kathleen Cady, Billie
Jean Billhiemer, David Wise,
Michael Regan, John Polcastro.
Francis Parry, James Manard,
John Grega, William Freda, Da-
vid Fenstermaker. and David
Bacharach.