1933 — March 25, gasoline stove explosion under whisky still, home fire, near Fargo, OK–7
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 1-4-2025 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–7 Daily Ardmoreite, Ardmore, OK. “Seven Die as Still Explodes.” 3-26-1933, p. 1.
–7 Sunday Avalanche-Journal, Lubbock TX. “Stove Explosion Claims Seven Lives…” 3-26-33
Narrative Information
March 25: “Fargo, Okla., March 25. – (AP) The toll of a gasoline stove explosion and fire at a tiny farmhouse near here early today was increased this afternoon to six with the death of 2 year old Donald Roy Smith. The child’s father, Roy Smith, is near death in a hospital at Woodward.
“Fargo, Okla., Mar. 25. – (AP) – Trapped by the explosion of a gasoline stove, five members of a farm family died in their tiny house near here early today. Two others may die of burns. The dead:
Nick Smith, 60.
Mrs. Nick Smith, 58.
Mrs. Marie Steinment, 25, their daughter.
Mrs. Roy Smith, 24, a daughter-in-law.
_____Smith, 10-months-old child of the Roy Smiths.
“….The seven were asleep at the time of the blast, which sprayed flaming gasoline to every corner of the one-room dwelling. Positions of the bodies indicated none but Roy Smith and the little boy had moved.
“The husband of Marie Steinment was near Vici at the time of the fire, friends said. The Steinments had no children.” (Ada Evening News, OK. “Five Lose Lives in Burning House.” 3-26-1933, p. 1.)
March 25: “Fargo, March 25. – (AP) – The explosion of a small gasoline stove, burning under a small whisky still, took seven lives in a tiny farmhouse near here today. Trapped in their sleep, most of the victims perished before they could struggle from their beds. The dead:
Nick Schmidt, 60;
Mrs. Nick Schmidt, 58;
Mrs. Marie Steinment, a married daughter, 25;
Mrs. Roy Schmidt, daughter-in-law, 24;
Jack Schmidt, two months old child of Mrs. Roy Schmidt, and
Donald Roy Schmidt, her 2-year-old son, and
Roy Schmidt, Donald’s father.
“The 2-year-old boy and his father died in a Woodward hospital this afternoon. The father, who seized Donald, rushed through the flames and jumped into his automobile, driving a mile to a neighbor’s home, told Dr. C. R. Silverthorne a whisky ‘cooker’ that was sitting atop the gasoline stove caused the gasoline to ignite.
“The five charred bodies were not extricated from the ruins for hours. Meanwhile, Sheriff J. D. Thomas of Ellis county began an investigation.
“The upper half of Roy Schmidt’s body was almost a solid mass of burns and his face was seared. ‘I’m going to die and I might as well tell you the truth,” he told Dr. Silverthorne. ‘I had a still in the house and it blew up; I was trying to make a living to keep from starving to death’.” (Daily Ardmoreite, Ardmore, OK. “Seven Die as Still Explodes.” 3-26-1933, p. 1.)
Sources
Ada Evening News, OK. “Five Lose Lives in Burning House.” 3-26-1933, p. 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=48761070&sterm=still+explosion
Daily Ardmoreite, Ardmore, OK. “Seven Die as Still Explodes.” 3-26-1933, p. 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=206975915&sterm=stove+woodward
Sunday Avalanche-Journal, Lubbock, TX. “Stove Explosion Claims Seven Lives in Farm Home.” 3-26-1933, p. 1. http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=114014957&sterm