Butler County, Kansas

MULLIN, FLORENCE...ELBERT...DELBERT...HERBERT

FOUR PERSONS PERISH IN FLAMES WHICH DESTROY HOME SUNDAY

MRS. JOHN MULLIN AND THREE CHILDREN DIE FROM BURNS SUSTAINED AT 1157 ADA EARLY YESTERDAY MORNING

TWO CHILDREN BURNED TO DEATH IN BEDS---MOTHER AND BABY BOY DIED AT HOSPITAL LAST NIGHT

An attempt to start a fire with crude oil cost the lives of Mrs. Florence Mullin, 28 years old and her three children, Elbert, 7 years old, Delbert, 2 years old, and Herbert, a baby of six months, early Sunday morning. John Mullin, 39 years old, the husband and father, was badly burned and is in a serious condition. The two oldest children were burned to death in their beds. The baby died Sunday night at 6 p.m. and the mother a few hours later, at the Augusta hospital, where they were rushed from the scene of disaster.

The father is in such a condition that he can give little account of the cause of the fire. As near as can be learned, the mother was attempting to start a fire in the home at 1157 Ada avenue about six o'clock yesterday morning. A five gallon can of crude oil was kept in the house for use in starting fires. When she poured oil from the can onto the fire, the whole can exploded, throwing fire all over the house. There were only two doors in the house, which was a one-room frame affair. One of these doors was nailed shut and the other was locked. No one seems to know just how the father and mother made their escape with the youngest child. Neighbors were awakened by the screams of the mother, who was outside the house, when aid arrived. The father stated that to the best of his knowledge, he passed the baby through the window to the mother, who had already made her escape.

When neighbors, attracted by the woman's screams, arrived on the scene, the little house was a mass of flames. A fire alarm was not turned in until some minutes later and the department could probably have been of little assistance at any time as the frame building burned like tinder. Frank Preston, a member of the police force, was on his way home when he noticed the flames. He ran six blocks to turn in the alarm and the department made a quick run but the house had already fallen in before they arrived.

The two oldest children perished in their bed. The bodies were charred beyond recognition as human forms. Evidently they were burned as they slept and had no chance to make an effort to escape.

The father and mother and the youngest child were rushed to the Augusta hospital but medical science could do little for the mother and child. Reports from the hospital late today said the father would recover, though he is badly burned about the face and feet.

The Mullin family returned here about three months ago from Florence where he had been employed in the oil fields. He was employed here on the Brady lease. The family is well known here, having lived here for many years.

The funeral of the four victims of the fire were held this afternoon at 4 o'clock from the Nazarene church. Rev. Dunlap had charge of the services. Interment was in Elmwood cemetery.
(Augusta Daily Gazette ~ Monday ~ 21 Jan 1921)

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