Edmunds County Tribune -

From the Ipswich Tribune

February 11, 1925 edition

CHILDREN SHOW PLUCK

John Hammerich of Bell Township tells an exciting story of what happened recently when he was in town for treatments accompanied by his wife. Six of the children were left at home, under instructions to beware of catching cold as they had been having chicken pox. Mrs. Hammerich had left a pan of lard crackling in the open oven and soon after the departure of their parents one of the youngsters closed the oven door. Later the fire was stirred up. The oldest girl was mopping the kitchen floor when suddenly an explosion burst on the air. The oven door blew open and the stove lids flew off and a deluge of smoke and flames poured into the room. The oldest boy had his leather gloves on and rushing to the oven grabbed the pan of flaming cracklings and started for the door with it. The fire caught and ran up his coat sleeve and before he could get to the door, he was obliged to drop the pan. Seeing her brother’s coat on fire the older sister seized the mop pail and poured the contents over him, putting out the flames. He then finished his outward trip with the cracklings, tossing them into the yard. The youngsters returned to the kitchen, not daring to remain long outside. A short time after they looked out and became aware that the flax straw banking had been set afire by the sparks remaining in the cracklings and was burning merrily against the side of the house. Then another scramble ensued to get buckets of water to put out the fire. Through it all the older children were put to it to keep the smaller ones outside the danger line. It all called for quick work but the youngsters saved the day and when their parents came home the most serious result to show for the episode was the partial destruction of the coat of the older boy, thanks to the quick action of sister with the mop pail.