Daughter of Barney Stephens and Ethel Magnus
Brother Barney #93498022
Sister Beulah Maurine #93498115
Moberly Monitor Index December 10, 1927
FIRE KILLS 3 STEPHENS CHILDREN
-------------------------------
BARNEY STEPHENS' CHILDREN WERE TRAPPED
IN EARLY MORNING BLAZE
-------------------------------
Falling Roof Prevents Rescue and Parents Forced
to See Them Burn
------------------------------
FATHER AND MOTHER HAD NARROW ESCAPE
-----------------------------
Bodies Burned Beyond Recognition-Had Made
Effort to Escape the Flames
In what may be termed the worst catastrophe that had struck this county for several years, was the disastrous fire at the Barney Stephens farm home, 1 & 1/4 miles southeast of Moberly, in which the three children of Mr. and Mrs. Stephens lost their lives at 3:30 o'clock this morning.
The dead are:
Maurine Stephens, 8
Barney, Jr., 9
Martha Lydia, 11
Mr. and Mrs. Stephens are both badly burned about the face, body and arms. They, however, due to the prostration suffered when they realized the wreckage of their home, the death of their little flock of children, and the utter ruin of their dreams for the future in so far as the future of their children were concerned, heed not the terrible physical torture they must be suffering.
Stephens, who operates a small dairy, had risen from bed at 3 o'clock this morning and after starting the fire in the kitchen stove, had left the house for the barn and had started to milk the cows. Paying no more attention to the house, he was suddenly attracted by the screams of his wife.
Jumping through the window of the barn, he was confronted with the sight of his home a mass of flames. Realizing the peril of his children and knowing his wife must be safe from her screams, he dashed headlong towards the room occupied by their children.
CHILDREN AWAKE
Calling them at the top of his voice, he started to pound on the door leading to the room they occupied and then dashed to the window. He heard a faint voice answer him. About to break the window and dash in and save his children, he was barred in his heroic attempt by the roof of the house falling in, pinning his children in a blazing inferno.
His wife who had had a miraculous escape through a window, joined him and the two, stricken aghast at the awful sight and dumb with suffering and misery, were forced to stand by and see their home consumed and to realize that the house which they had enjoyed so much was now serving as a funeral pyre for their children.
UNABLE TO CHECK FLAMES
Attempts to check the flames were futile. Neighbors who arrived to aid in any manner possible helped as much as they could in checking the flames. when the flames had subsided to some extent, they were braved and the remains of the children were taken from the ruins.
BODY NEAR DOOR
The oldest daughter's body was found near the door, where she, evidently knowing the danger had sought to escape. She had awakened the other two children as indicated by the positions of their bodies. The boy's body was half way on the bed and the smaller girl was found halfway from the bed and the door. The bodies were burned to a point far beyond recognition. The remains were turned over to a local undertaker for preparations for burial.
It was only a few months ago that the Stephens farm was visited by a small cyclone which completely destroyed the out buildings but did little damage to the home. While thankful for the saving of the house, at that time it was little realized that it was to serve as a trap for the lives of the three children. An overheated stove is blamed for the fire.
All three children were students at the southeast park school.
Moberly residents were shocked this morning when hearing of the tragedy of the early morning. Mr. and Mrs. Stephens are well known in the city and held in the highest esteem.
Funeral services for the three children will be conducted from the Central Christian Church at 2:30 o'clock Sunday afternoon by the Rev. G. C. Schurman and burial will be made at Oakland Cemetery. The children were regular attendants at the Central Christian Bible School.
UNCERTAIN ON CAUSE OF FIRE
--------------------------
Either Defective Flue or Overheated Stove Blamed
for Disastrous Fire
--------------------------
DAUGHTERS TRIED TO ESCAPE BY THE DOOR
Neighbors of the Stephens' think that the fire, which resulted in death of their three children and complete loss of their home, must have started from an overheated stove or a defective flue. Mr. Stephens had gone to the barn, about 200 feet from the house, to milk his cows, preparatory to delivering milk to his town customers.
Screams of his wife, evidently awakened by smoke and flames, reached him and their neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Homer Crose rushed to the house, nothing could be done to save the lives of the three children.
Mr. and Mrs. Stephens plead with the children to cross to the window on the west side of the house but the two girls, Martha, 11 and Maurine, 8, started for the south front door and had clasped the door knob when she died. the younger girl reached the sill between the two rooms. Junior, 9, had only started to leave his bed.
Bodies of the children are so charred that they will probably be placed in one casket and a triple funeral held. Not a single piece of furniture remains of the house.
STEPHENS TRAILED BY MISFORTUNES
--------------------------------
Tornado Last Summer Demolished Buildings;
Mother Killed in Auto Accident
--------------------------------
MRS. STEPHENS BEING TREATED FOR BURNS
The latest ill luck of Mr. and Mrs. Barney Stephens, southeast of Moberly, today brought to the minds of events in the lives of the Stephens'. A series of catastrophes, it seems, has marked the lives of the two.
Accidental deaths of relatives and loss of property in a tornado last summer and among the stories friends were telling and re-telling as they shivered in the cold and watched the last embers of the Stephens' home burn this morning. The three Stephens' children were burned to death and the little home and furnishings of the family completely destroyed in an early morning fire today.
Mr. Stephens' mother was killed in an automobile accident at Middle Grove several years ago and his grandfather died suddenly a number of years ago. Last summer when the barn and outbuildings were destroyed and other damages done in a tornado Mr. and Mrs. Stephens consoled themselves with the thought that they still had their family, neighbors tell.
Today that consolation is taken away, Mrs. Stephens has been brought here to the home of her mother, Mrs. Esther Magnus, 834 West Reed Street, where she is suffering from burns about her arms, face, exposure, shock, and grief. She escaped through a window, when the smoke and flames awakened her.
Brother Barney #93498022
Sister Beulah Maurine #93498115
Moberly Monitor Index December 10, 1927
FIRE KILLS 3 STEPHENS CHILDREN
-------------------------------
BARNEY STEPHENS' CHILDREN WERE TRAPPED
IN EARLY MORNING BLAZE
-------------------------------
Falling Roof Prevents Rescue and Parents Forced
to See Them Burn
------------------------------
FATHER AND MOTHER HAD NARROW ESCAPE
-----------------------------
Bodies Burned Beyond Recognition-Had Made
Effort to Escape the Flames
In what may be termed the worst catastrophe that had struck this county for several years, was the disastrous fire at the Barney Stephens farm home, 1 & 1/4 miles southeast of Moberly, in which the three children of Mr. and Mrs. Stephens lost their lives at 3:30 o'clock this morning.
The dead are:
Maurine Stephens, 8
Barney, Jr., 9
Martha Lydia, 11
Mr. and Mrs. Stephens are both badly burned about the face, body and arms. They, however, due to the prostration suffered when they realized the wreckage of their home, the death of their little flock of children, and the utter ruin of their dreams for the future in so far as the future of their children were concerned, heed not the terrible physical torture they must be suffering.
Stephens, who operates a small dairy, had risen from bed at 3 o'clock this morning and after starting the fire in the kitchen stove, had left the house for the barn and had started to milk the cows. Paying no more attention to the house, he was suddenly attracted by the screams of his wife.
Jumping through the window of the barn, he was confronted with the sight of his home a mass of flames. Realizing the peril of his children and knowing his wife must be safe from her screams, he dashed headlong towards the room occupied by their children.
CHILDREN AWAKE
Calling them at the top of his voice, he started to pound on the door leading to the room they occupied and then dashed to the window. He heard a faint voice answer him. About to break the window and dash in and save his children, he was barred in his heroic attempt by the roof of the house falling in, pinning his children in a blazing inferno.
His wife who had had a miraculous escape through a window, joined him and the two, stricken aghast at the awful sight and dumb with suffering and misery, were forced to stand by and see their home consumed and to realize that the house which they had enjoyed so much was now serving as a funeral pyre for their children.
UNABLE TO CHECK FLAMES
Attempts to check the flames were futile. Neighbors who arrived to aid in any manner possible helped as much as they could in checking the flames. when the flames had subsided to some extent, they were braved and the remains of the children were taken from the ruins.
BODY NEAR DOOR
The oldest daughter's body was found near the door, where she, evidently knowing the danger had sought to escape. She had awakened the other two children as indicated by the positions of their bodies. The boy's body was half way on the bed and the smaller girl was found halfway from the bed and the door. The bodies were burned to a point far beyond recognition. The remains were turned over to a local undertaker for preparations for burial.
It was only a few months ago that the Stephens farm was visited by a small cyclone which completely destroyed the out buildings but did little damage to the home. While thankful for the saving of the house, at that time it was little realized that it was to serve as a trap for the lives of the three children. An overheated stove is blamed for the fire.
All three children were students at the southeast park school.
Moberly residents were shocked this morning when hearing of the tragedy of the early morning. Mr. and Mrs. Stephens are well known in the city and held in the highest esteem.
Funeral services for the three children will be conducted from the Central Christian Church at 2:30 o'clock Sunday afternoon by the Rev. G. C. Schurman and burial will be made at Oakland Cemetery. The children were regular attendants at the Central Christian Bible School.
UNCERTAIN ON CAUSE OF FIRE
--------------------------
Either Defective Flue or Overheated Stove Blamed
for Disastrous Fire
--------------------------
DAUGHTERS TRIED TO ESCAPE BY THE DOOR
Neighbors of the Stephens' think that the fire, which resulted in death of their three children and complete loss of their home, must have started from an overheated stove or a defective flue. Mr. Stephens had gone to the barn, about 200 feet from the house, to milk his cows, preparatory to delivering milk to his town customers.
Screams of his wife, evidently awakened by smoke and flames, reached him and their neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Homer Crose rushed to the house, nothing could be done to save the lives of the three children.
Mr. and Mrs. Stephens plead with the children to cross to the window on the west side of the house but the two girls, Martha, 11 and Maurine, 8, started for the south front door and had clasped the door knob when she died. the younger girl reached the sill between the two rooms. Junior, 9, had only started to leave his bed.
Bodies of the children are so charred that they will probably be placed in one casket and a triple funeral held. Not a single piece of furniture remains of the house.
STEPHENS TRAILED BY MISFORTUNES
--------------------------------
Tornado Last Summer Demolished Buildings;
Mother Killed in Auto Accident
--------------------------------
MRS. STEPHENS BEING TREATED FOR BURNS
The latest ill luck of Mr. and Mrs. Barney Stephens, southeast of Moberly, today brought to the minds of events in the lives of the Stephens'. A series of catastrophes, it seems, has marked the lives of the two.
Accidental deaths of relatives and loss of property in a tornado last summer and among the stories friends were telling and re-telling as they shivered in the cold and watched the last embers of the Stephens' home burn this morning. The three Stephens' children were burned to death and the little home and furnishings of the family completely destroyed in an early morning fire today.
Mr. Stephens' mother was killed in an automobile accident at Middle Grove several years ago and his grandfather died suddenly a number of years ago. Last summer when the barn and outbuildings were destroyed and other damages done in a tornado Mr. and Mrs. Stephens consoled themselves with the thought that they still had their family, neighbors tell.
Today that consolation is taken away, Mrs. Stephens has been brought here to the home of her mother, Mrs. Esther Magnus, 834 West Reed Street, where she is suffering from burns about her arms, face, exposure, shock, and grief. She escaped through a window, when the smoke and flames awakened her.
Daughter of Barney Stephens and Ethel Magnus
Brother Barney #93498022
Sister Beulah Maurine #93498115
Moberly Monitor Index December 10, 1927
FIRE KILLS 3 STEPHENS CHILDREN
-------------------------------
BARNEY STEPHENS' CHILDREN WERE TRAPPED
IN EARLY MORNING BLAZE
-------------------------------
Falling Roof Prevents Rescue and Parents Forced
to See Them Burn
------------------------------
FATHER AND MOTHER HAD NARROW ESCAPE
-----------------------------
Bodies Burned Beyond Recognition-Had Made
Effort to Escape the Flames
In what may be termed the worst catastrophe that had struck this county for several years, was the disastrous fire at the Barney Stephens farm home, 1 & 1/4 miles southeast of Moberly, in which the three children of Mr. and Mrs. Stephens lost their lives at 3:30 o'clock this morning.
The dead are:
Maurine Stephens, 8
Barney, Jr., 9
Martha Lydia, 11
Mr. and Mrs. Stephens are both badly burned about the face, body and arms. They, however, due to the prostration suffered when they realized the wreckage of their home, the death of their little flock of children, and the utter ruin of their dreams for the future in so far as the future of their children were concerned, heed not the terrible physical torture they must be suffering.
Stephens, who operates a small dairy, had risen from bed at 3 o'clock this morning and after starting the fire in the kitchen stove, had left the house for the barn and had started to milk the cows. Paying no more attention to the house, he was suddenly attracted by the screams of his wife.
Jumping through the window of the barn, he was confronted with the sight of his home a mass of flames. Realizing the peril of his children and knowing his wife must be safe from her screams, he dashed headlong towards the room occupied by their children.
CHILDREN AWAKE
Calling them at the top of his voice, he started to pound on the door leading to the room they occupied and then dashed to the window. He heard a faint voice answer him. About to break the window and dash in and save his children, he was barred in his heroic attempt by the roof of the house falling in, pinning his children in a blazing inferno.
His wife who had had a miraculous escape through a window, joined him and the two, stricken aghast at the awful sight and dumb with suffering and misery, were forced to stand by and see their home consumed and to realize that the house which they had enjoyed so much was now serving as a funeral pyre for their children.
UNABLE TO CHECK FLAMES
Attempts to check the flames were futile. Neighbors who arrived to aid in any manner possible helped as much as they could in checking the flames. when the flames had subsided to some extent, they were braved and the remains of the children were taken from the ruins.
BODY NEAR DOOR
The oldest daughter's body was found near the door, where she, evidently knowing the danger had sought to escape. She had awakened the other two children as indicated by the positions of their bodies. The boy's body was half way on the bed and the smaller girl was found halfway from the bed and the door. The bodies were burned to a point far beyond recognition. The remains were turned over to a local undertaker for preparations for burial.
It was only a few months ago that the Stephens farm was visited by a small cyclone which completely destroyed the out buildings but did little damage to the home. While thankful for the saving of the house, at that time it was little realized that it was to serve as a trap for the lives of the three children. An overheated stove is blamed for the fire.
All three children were students at the southeast park school.
Moberly residents were shocked this morning when hearing of the tragedy of the early morning. Mr. and Mrs. Stephens are well known in the city and held in the highest esteem.
Funeral services for the three children will be conducted from the Central Christian Church at 2:30 o'clock Sunday afternoon by the Rev. G. C. Schurman and burial will be made at Oakland Cemetery. The children were regular attendants at the Central Christian Bible School.
UNCERTAIN ON CAUSE OF FIRE
--------------------------
Either Defective Flue or Overheated Stove Blamed
for Disastrous Fire
--------------------------
DAUGHTERS TRIED TO ESCAPE BY THE DOOR
Neighbors of the Stephens' think that the fire, which resulted in death of their three children and complete loss of their home, must have started from an overheated stove or a defective flue. Mr. Stephens had gone to the barn, about 200 feet from the house, to milk his cows, preparatory to delivering milk to his town customers.
Screams of his wife, evidently awakened by smoke and flames, reached him and their neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Homer Crose rushed to the house, nothing could be done to save the lives of the three children.
Mr. and Mrs. Stephens plead with the children to cross to the window on the west side of the house but the two girls, Martha, 11 and Maurine, 8, started for the south front door and had clasped the door knob when she died. the younger girl reached the sill between the two rooms. Junior, 9, had only started to leave his bed.
Bodies of the children are so charred that they will probably be placed in one casket and a triple funeral held. Not a single piece of furniture remains of the house.
STEPHENS TRAILED BY MISFORTUNES
--------------------------------
Tornado Last Summer Demolished Buildings;
Mother Killed in Auto Accident
--------------------------------
MRS. STEPHENS BEING TREATED FOR BURNS
The latest ill luck of Mr. and Mrs. Barney Stephens, southeast of Moberly, today brought to the minds of events in the lives of the Stephens'. A series of catastrophes, it seems, has marked the lives of the two.
Accidental deaths of relatives and loss of property in a tornado last summer and among the stories friends were telling and re-telling as they shivered in the cold and watched the last embers of the Stephens' home burn this morning. The three Stephens' children were burned to death and the little home and furnishings of the family completely destroyed in an early morning fire today.
Mr. Stephens' mother was killed in an automobile accident at Middle Grove several years ago and his grandfather died suddenly a number of years ago. Last summer when the barn and outbuildings were destroyed and other damages done in a tornado Mr. and Mrs. Stephens consoled themselves with the thought that they still had their family, neighbors tell.
Today that consolation is taken away, Mrs. Stephens has been brought here to the home of her mother, Mrs. Esther Magnus, 834 West Reed Street, where she is suffering from burns about her arms, face, exposure, shock, and grief. She escaped through a window, when the smoke and flames awakened her.
Brother Barney #93498022
Sister Beulah Maurine #93498115
Moberly Monitor Index December 10, 1927
FIRE KILLS 3 STEPHENS CHILDREN
-------------------------------
BARNEY STEPHENS' CHILDREN WERE TRAPPED
IN EARLY MORNING BLAZE
-------------------------------
Falling Roof Prevents Rescue and Parents Forced
to See Them Burn
------------------------------
FATHER AND MOTHER HAD NARROW ESCAPE
-----------------------------
Bodies Burned Beyond Recognition-Had Made
Effort to Escape the Flames
In what may be termed the worst catastrophe that had struck this county for several years, was the disastrous fire at the Barney Stephens farm home, 1 & 1/4 miles southeast of Moberly, in which the three children of Mr. and Mrs. Stephens lost their lives at 3:30 o'clock this morning.
The dead are:
Maurine Stephens, 8
Barney, Jr., 9
Martha Lydia, 11
Mr. and Mrs. Stephens are both badly burned about the face, body and arms. They, however, due to the prostration suffered when they realized the wreckage of their home, the death of their little flock of children, and the utter ruin of their dreams for the future in so far as the future of their children were concerned, heed not the terrible physical torture they must be suffering.
Stephens, who operates a small dairy, had risen from bed at 3 o'clock this morning and after starting the fire in the kitchen stove, had left the house for the barn and had started to milk the cows. Paying no more attention to the house, he was suddenly attracted by the screams of his wife.
Jumping through the window of the barn, he was confronted with the sight of his home a mass of flames. Realizing the peril of his children and knowing his wife must be safe from her screams, he dashed headlong towards the room occupied by their children.
CHILDREN AWAKE
Calling them at the top of his voice, he started to pound on the door leading to the room they occupied and then dashed to the window. He heard a faint voice answer him. About to break the window and dash in and save his children, he was barred in his heroic attempt by the roof of the house falling in, pinning his children in a blazing inferno.
His wife who had had a miraculous escape through a window, joined him and the two, stricken aghast at the awful sight and dumb with suffering and misery, were forced to stand by and see their home consumed and to realize that the house which they had enjoyed so much was now serving as a funeral pyre for their children.
UNABLE TO CHECK FLAMES
Attempts to check the flames were futile. Neighbors who arrived to aid in any manner possible helped as much as they could in checking the flames. when the flames had subsided to some extent, they were braved and the remains of the children were taken from the ruins.
BODY NEAR DOOR
The oldest daughter's body was found near the door, where she, evidently knowing the danger had sought to escape. She had awakened the other two children as indicated by the positions of their bodies. The boy's body was half way on the bed and the smaller girl was found halfway from the bed and the door. The bodies were burned to a point far beyond recognition. The remains were turned over to a local undertaker for preparations for burial.
It was only a few months ago that the Stephens farm was visited by a small cyclone which completely destroyed the out buildings but did little damage to the home. While thankful for the saving of the house, at that time it was little realized that it was to serve as a trap for the lives of the three children. An overheated stove is blamed for the fire.
All three children were students at the southeast park school.
Moberly residents were shocked this morning when hearing of the tragedy of the early morning. Mr. and Mrs. Stephens are well known in the city and held in the highest esteem.
Funeral services for the three children will be conducted from the Central Christian Church at 2:30 o'clock Sunday afternoon by the Rev. G. C. Schurman and burial will be made at Oakland Cemetery. The children were regular attendants at the Central Christian Bible School.
UNCERTAIN ON CAUSE OF FIRE
--------------------------
Either Defective Flue or Overheated Stove Blamed
for Disastrous Fire
--------------------------
DAUGHTERS TRIED TO ESCAPE BY THE DOOR
Neighbors of the Stephens' think that the fire, which resulted in death of their three children and complete loss of their home, must have started from an overheated stove or a defective flue. Mr. Stephens had gone to the barn, about 200 feet from the house, to milk his cows, preparatory to delivering milk to his town customers.
Screams of his wife, evidently awakened by smoke and flames, reached him and their neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Homer Crose rushed to the house, nothing could be done to save the lives of the three children.
Mr. and Mrs. Stephens plead with the children to cross to the window on the west side of the house but the two girls, Martha, 11 and Maurine, 8, started for the south front door and had clasped the door knob when she died. the younger girl reached the sill between the two rooms. Junior, 9, had only started to leave his bed.
Bodies of the children are so charred that they will probably be placed in one casket and a triple funeral held. Not a single piece of furniture remains of the house.
STEPHENS TRAILED BY MISFORTUNES
--------------------------------
Tornado Last Summer Demolished Buildings;
Mother Killed in Auto Accident
--------------------------------
MRS. STEPHENS BEING TREATED FOR BURNS
The latest ill luck of Mr. and Mrs. Barney Stephens, southeast of Moberly, today brought to the minds of events in the lives of the Stephens'. A series of catastrophes, it seems, has marked the lives of the two.
Accidental deaths of relatives and loss of property in a tornado last summer and among the stories friends were telling and re-telling as they shivered in the cold and watched the last embers of the Stephens' home burn this morning. The three Stephens' children were burned to death and the little home and furnishings of the family completely destroyed in an early morning fire today.
Mr. Stephens' mother was killed in an automobile accident at Middle Grove several years ago and his grandfather died suddenly a number of years ago. Last summer when the barn and outbuildings were destroyed and other damages done in a tornado Mr. and Mrs. Stephens consoled themselves with the thought that they still had their family, neighbors tell.
Today that consolation is taken away, Mrs. Stephens has been brought here to the home of her mother, Mrs. Esther Magnus, 834 West Reed Street, where she is suffering from burns about her arms, face, exposure, shock, and grief. She escaped through a window, when the smoke and flames awakened her.
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