1954 — Jan 4, Home Oil Space Heater Explodes, Home Burns, Old Orchard Beach, ME– 5

–5 Biddeford Daily Journal, ME. “Fund Started to Aid Family Losing Children.” 1-6-1954, p.1.
–5 Ruston Daily Leader, LA. “Flames Kill Five When Oil Heater Explodes in Maine.” 1-4-54, 1

Narrative Information

Jan 4: By United Press. A fire has killed four young brothers and their sister in a bungalow in Maine. The little girl was to have celebrated her seventh birthday today. Police say an oil space heater exploded in the home of Norman Whitcomb at Old Orchard Beach a few minutes after Whitcomb left for work on a school construction project. A neighbor saw Mrs. Whitcomb silhouetted against flames roaring through the upper floor of the one-and-one-half-floor bungalow. He yelled ‘Jump, jump.’ Mrs. Whitcomb hesitated a moment – as if wanting to go back after the children. Then she jumped to safety. Later four of the children were found suffocated in their beds. The fifth was on the floor – also suffocated. All were under 10 years old.” (Ruston Daily Leader, LA. “Flames Kill Five When Oil Heater Explodes in Maine.” 1-4-1954, p. 1.)

Jan 6: “….The Whitcombs, as the result of a fire at their 63 Atlantic avenue, Old Orchard Beach, home, Monday, lost their five young children, ranging in age from two to nine, in addition to losing all household furnishings and personal belongings….” (Biddeford Daily Journal, ME. “Fund Started to Aid Family Losing Children.” 1-6-1954, p.1.)

Sources

Biddeford Daily Journal, ME. “Fund Started to Aid Family Losing Children.” 1-6-1954, p.1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=165138421&sterm

Ruston Daily Leader, LA. “Flames Kill Five When Oil Heater Explodes in Maine.” 1-4-1954, p. 1. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=139514641&sterm=fire+children