Volume 9 , Issue 16

1/4/1924 - Fatal Farmhouse Fire

[Taken from The Daily Alva Review-Courier, Alva, Woods Co., OK, dated Friday, January 4, 1924, Vol. XV, No. 157.]

This is the 1924 frontpage story concerning the fatal farm house fire that killed 4 of the Osborne family members in the early morning hours, January 4, 1924.

James Oscar Osborne, son of Minnie (Perks) and Harvey Osborne, was fatally burned in the Winchester fire. His frantic mother fought, but failed to rescue her sleeping children. The kerosene explosion was followed by flames that engulfed the rural Osborne Farm house, near Winchester, Oklahoma, around 7:00 o'clock in the morning.

The Osborne Farm house, near Winchester, Oklahoma, burned early in the morning, January 4, 1924. Two children die while asleep, trapped in the bed room. The Father, Harvey Osborne, was seriously burned when the Kerosene or oil can exploded in his hand while he was lighting the fire in the stove. The father was taken to Alva and died about 3:30 p.m. as he reached the city.

One son, James Oscar Osborne, was badly burned and was in the hospital.

As the rest of the story goes, "Two dead, one burned beyond all hope of recovery, and one other suffering severe burns about the body and face, is the toll of the fire which destroyed the Osborne farm house near Winchester, Oklahoma, early today. The fire was caused, according to Mrs. Osborne, wife of the man fatally injured, by the explosion of a can of kerosene, the contents of which Mr. Osborne was pouring on live coals in a stove."

"The dead are: Galen Osborne, age 11, and Alice Osborne, age 14. The injured are: Harve Osborne, age 45, father of the two dead, and another son, age 12. The mother of the family, a small child and a son-in-law of the family escaped injury."

"The fire started about 7:00 o'clock this morning. According to Mrs. Osborne, she and her husband had just gotten out of bed to build a fire. Mr. Osborne started the fire in the stove by throwing a little kerosene out of a small can onto the coals. The fire not burning very well, however, he walked over to the corner of the room picked up the five gallon kerosene can and returning began to pour the contents onto the flames. Mrs. Osborne states that she shouted to him not to do so but it was too late as at the very moment she found her voice, the explosion occurred. In a moment's time the entire building was a mass of flames."

Children Asleep -- "Mr. Osborne rushed out of the house followed by his wife and the baby. The man's clothing was afire, and he laid down on the ground in an effort to extinguish the flames. He was overcome, however, and apparently became unconscious after a few moments, as he laid in the same place, in the bitter cold until neighbors arrived about a half hour later."

"Mrs. Osborne rushed around to the other side of the house and opened the window of the room where two of the children were sleeping. The room however, was a roaring furnace by this time, and not being able to reach the children, she was forced to give up the attempt."

"The son-in-law of the family, clad only in a pair of trousers -- without coat or shoes, rushed to a neighboring farm house and told the story. He escaped injury."

"Mr. Osborne has burns on almost every part of his body, and attending physicians state that there is no hope for his recovery. His 12 year old son, in the Alva hospital has severe burns on his hands and face, and about the body."

Alva Doctors Attend -- "Immediately following the receipt of the news of the disaster here, Dr. O. E. Templin and Dr. H. B. Ames, local physicians, rushed to the scene of the fire. Upon arriving they found Mrs. Osborne, the son-in-law of the family, and the infant at the home of a neighboring family. The two injured, Mr. Osborne and the younger son had also been brought there. The wounds of these were dressed and the injured brought to the Alva hospital in the Garrison ambulance. Neighbors were waiting for the flames to die down somewhat before entering the blazing farm house in search of the two missing Osborne children. The children had been asleep at the time of the explosion in another room of the dwelling. Mrs. Osborne rushed out of the house immediately following the explosion and to the window of the room where the children slept. She broke the window and attempted to reach the children, but failed to do so. The room at the time was a mass of flames."

Bodies Unrecognizable -- "The two bodies were recovered at about 10:00 o'clock -- horribly burned, their features unrecognizable. Several members of the bodies were missing and the trunks badly charred."

"The fire is, without question, one of the most horrible disasters in the annals of Woods County. The bodies of the two dead will be buried in the cemetery near Winchester."
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