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Butler County, Kansas

CHILDREN TRAPPED ON SECOND FLOOR OF HOME

MOTHER ALSO BADLY BURNED

Tragedy Strikes Harry Miller Family, At White Station, Eight Miles Southwest Of El Dorado, Early This Morning, When Raymond Miller, Aged Eight Years, And One Of Victims, Attempts To Start Fire In Heating Stove

Four persons were burned to death about 6 o'clock this morning, when their home at White Station, about eight miles southwest of El Dorado, caught fire and was totally destroyed.

The dead:

Harry Miller, aged 51 years, father of the family.

Opal Miller, aged 12 years, the second oldest girl.

Raymond Miller, aged 8 years, the youngest boy.

Bernice Miller, aged 5 years, the baby of the family.

Mother Badly Burned

Mrs. Minnie Miller, wife of Harry Miller, was so badly burned about the head and arms that it is believed she cannot recover. She is at the Augusta Hospital, where this afternoon it was said her condition is unimproved since she was taken to the institution shortly after the fire occurred.

Miss Loula Miller, aged 18 years, and Jim Miller, aged 16 years, the other members of the family, escaped from the burning home, scantily clad. They suffered no burns, however.

Trapped On Second Floor

All of those who were burned to death were asleep on the second floor of the eight-room two-story house, except Raymond, and he had been sleeping on the first floor with Mrs. Miller and Miss Loula. Jim was the only one on the second floor to escape.

The first started when Raymond awoke about 6 o'clock and went to the dining room to start a fire in a heating stove, Miss Loula said this morning. The girl did not know for sure if Raymond had used kerosene in starting the blaze. She said she heard no explosion.

Whole Room On Fire

"The first thing I knew," said Miss Loula, "was that the entire room was a mass of flames. The fire quickly spread to the remainder of the house."

Miss Loula attempted to arouse the other members of the family, but before many seconds the smoke was so heavy in the house that she had to abandon the effort in order to save herself.

Seeing the room was in flames, Raymond awoke his mother and the other occupants on the first floor, and then went to the second floor to call his father and other sisters and brothers. The boy and the three other members of the family who were asleep on this floor, however, were trapped and could not escape.

Tried To Save Daughter

Mrs. Miller sustained for severe burns, it was said, when she ran back into the house in an attempt to rescue her daughter, Bernice, the baby of the family. Mrs. Miller narrowly escaped with her life.

Clarence Vincent and William Bowers, employees of the Derby Oil Company, which has a pump station about 200 yards east of the Miller place, were the first outsiders to discover the fire and reach the burning home. They kicked out windows to enable the smoke to escape, and then attempted to rescue some of the members of the trapped family.

Woman Taken to Hospital

Mrs. Miller was later taken to the Augusta Hospital in an automobile, which belongs to Mr. Vincent. Mr. Vincent and Clyde Miller, a relative of the stricken family, who lives a half a mile west of the scene of the tragedy, accompanied Mrs. Miller to the hospital, later returning to do what they could to administer to the needs of the survivors.

Clyde Miller and Mrs. Ida Blackford, who lives about a quarter of a mile southeast of the Miller residence, were the first persons, who lived at a distance, to reach the fire. Mrs. Blackford and Mrs. Charles Lehr, who lives east of Augusta, were directing the relief work at noon.

Appeal For Funds

The two women appealed to the large number of men about the place to make up a purse to buy Miss Loula Miller some shoes. The girl was compelled to flee from the home in her stocking feet.

Sheriff E. E. McKnight and Dr. W. S. Dinsmore, county coroner, were called to the scene of the fire about 7 o'clock. Sheriff McKnight was accompanied by Deputy Sheriff Grover Clingan. By the time they reached there over the unusually muddy roads, the fire had levelled the home and its contents.

Find Charred Bodies

A search for the bodies of the victims started at once. Only charred portions of the torsos of the father and his three children were found. Just a minute portion of the body of the baby, Bernice, were discovered.

As the news of the disaster spread, scores of people flocked to the scene. Ten dollars was raised in a few moments to buy shoes for Miss Loula. Other offers of assistance, of clothing for the girl and her mother and brother, Jim, also were made, and arrangements were being made to provide for the members of the family who survived the fire in the home of neighbors.

Bodies To El Dorado

The bodies of the four victims were brought to El Dorado early this afternoon. They are at the Byrd Brothers Funeral Home. No funeral arrangements have been made, but it is likely that one funeral service will be conducted for all the victims. The service will be held tomorow.

The Miller family is well known in the White Station community. Mr. Miller has lived in that section of the county for the past forty years. It was impossible this morning to secure any details on the lives of the four victims.

Father Here Yesterday

Harvey Miller, aged 14 years, who is a prisoner at the county jail, where he is being held on an assault with intent to kill charge, is a member of the family. Harry Miller, the boy's father, visited the youth at the county jail yesterday afternoon.

Miss Loula said this morning that the family did not have any insurance on the home or its contents. The insurance lapsed a short time ago.
(El Dorado Times ~ Saturday ~ 7 Jan 1928)

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HOLD SERVICES YESTERDAY FOR FIRE VICTIMS

Church is Packed To Pay Tribute To Father and Three Children

MOTHER THE SAME

Is Still In a Critical Condition In The Augusta Hospital As Result Of Burns

The four victims of the fire, which destroyed the home of Harry Miller, at White Station, early Saturday morning, were buried late yesterday afternoon in the old Augusta Cemetery, near their home.

Relatives and friends, who numbered so many they could not all gain entrance to the Haverhill Christian Church, paid their final tribute to the victims---the father, Harry Miller, and his three children, Opal, Raymond and Bernice. The badley charred torsos of the four were placed in the one casket, two in each end.

Condit In Charge

Rev. Fred W. Condit, pastor of the El Dorado Christian Church, conducted the services. He spoke most beautifully and comforting. The music was furnished by the choir of the Haverhill Church. The pallbearers were: C.E. Smitherman, George Leedom, J.P. Leedy, A.O. Clawson, Ed Johnson and Charles Lehr, all of whom have known the Miller family for many years, and a majority of whom live near the Miller place. Byrd Brothers Funeral Home, of El Dorado, was in charge of the bodies.

Mr. Miller was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Miller. He was born on January 14, 1876, in Colhoun County, Illinois, and came to Butler County in 1887, having lived in this community since. In addition to his widow, Mrs. Minnie Miller, who was badly burned in the fire and who is in a critical condition in the Augusta Hospital, Mr. Miller is survived by three other children, Miss Loula, James and Harvey. Mr. Miller also had these brothers and sisters, Mrs. Lucy Davis, Mrs. Clara Tipton, Mrs. Addie Bisagno, Mrs. Jennie Forest, Mrs. Mary Clouse and Edward, Otis, Thomas and John Miller.

Opal Miller was born on October 24, 1915, Raymond, September 2, 1920 and Bernice on February 27, 923, all at White Station.

Take Boy To Funeral

Harvey Miller, who is only 14 years old and is a prisoner at the county jail, where he is being held on a charge of assault with intent to kill, was taken to the funeral by his uncle, William Tipton. The youth was returned to the county jail last night. Harvey was told of the deaths of his father and two sisters and brother about noon Saturday. He is said to have laughter at first, and then to have replied, "I didn't think the house would burn down."
(El Dorado Times ~ Monday ~ 19 Jan 1928)