74-Year-Old Mrs. Lula E. Drury Fatally Burned On Dale Street - Freak Gasoline Fire Investigated
Mrs. Lula Ella Drury fell dead in the backyard as flames roared through the rear of the two-story frame house at 731 Dale Street.
The freak fire started only a few moments earlier when 26-year-old William H. Turner, husband of Mrs. Drury's granddaughter, was carrying a can of gasoline and some paintbrushes through the kitchen. The gasoline suddenly burst into flames, burning Turner's hands. He dropped the can and flames spewed over Mrs. Drury. Mrs. Drury ran screaming, her clothes aflame, into the back yard Turner and Jack R. Billman, a friend who was visiting them at the time, sought to pull Mrs. Drury's burning clothes from her body and to smother her with a blanket. Earl Renner, who lives in the other side of the double house, also saw Mrs. Drury run outside, her clothes aflame. Renner grabbed a comforter and also tried to extinguish the flames.
Turner told Fire Chief John W. Hall that he had just completed painting the hallway in the house in which The Turner family and Mrs. Drury made their home. He had placed his paintbrushes in a can of gasoline and was carrying them through the kitchen to the back porch when the can of gasoline suddenly exploded. Fire Chief Hall theorizes that gasoline fumes from the can were set off by the pilot light of a water heater in the kitchen.
Mrs. Drury, who was 74 years of age, was born in Hagerstown. She was a member of St. Matthew's EUB Church, and belonged to the American Legion Auxiliary.
Surviving are: daughters Mrs. William Rife, Phoenix Arizona; Mrs. Violet Koontz, Hagerstown; Mrs. John Worthington, Hagerstown; Mrs Helen Fournell, Culver City, Cal.; Mrs. George W. Boward, Hagerstown; Mrs. Orvin Dutrow, Hagerstown; brother, Earl Davis of Hagerstown; 15 grandchildren; and 13 great grandchildren.
The body was taken to the Suter-Rouzer Funeral Home Funeral.
Transcribed from the Herald Mail, Hagerstown, Maryland, Wednesday, March 11, 1959, p. 1
Funeral services for Mrs. Lulu G. Drury, who burned to death in a fire at her house on Dale Street, Tuesday, will be held Friday at 2 p. m. at the Suter Rouzer Funeral Home. The Rev. W. L. Baughman will officiate. Interment will be made in Rest Haven Cemetery. The casket will remain closed.
Transcribed from the Herald Mail, Hagerstown, Maryland, Thursday, March 12, 1959, p. 28
Mrs. Lula Ella Drury fell dead in the backyard as flames roared through the rear of the two-story frame house at 731 Dale Street.
The freak fire started only a few moments earlier when 26-year-old William H. Turner, husband of Mrs. Drury's granddaughter, was carrying a can of gasoline and some paintbrushes through the kitchen. The gasoline suddenly burst into flames, burning Turner's hands. He dropped the can and flames spewed over Mrs. Drury. Mrs. Drury ran screaming, her clothes aflame, into the back yard Turner and Jack R. Billman, a friend who was visiting them at the time, sought to pull Mrs. Drury's burning clothes from her body and to smother her with a blanket. Earl Renner, who lives in the other side of the double house, also saw Mrs. Drury run outside, her clothes aflame. Renner grabbed a comforter and also tried to extinguish the flames.
Turner told Fire Chief John W. Hall that he had just completed painting the hallway in the house in which The Turner family and Mrs. Drury made their home. He had placed his paintbrushes in a can of gasoline and was carrying them through the kitchen to the back porch when the can of gasoline suddenly exploded. Fire Chief Hall theorizes that gasoline fumes from the can were set off by the pilot light of a water heater in the kitchen.
Mrs. Drury, who was 74 years of age, was born in Hagerstown. She was a member of St. Matthew's EUB Church, and belonged to the American Legion Auxiliary.
Surviving are: daughters Mrs. William Rife, Phoenix Arizona; Mrs. Violet Koontz, Hagerstown; Mrs. John Worthington, Hagerstown; Mrs Helen Fournell, Culver City, Cal.; Mrs. George W. Boward, Hagerstown; Mrs. Orvin Dutrow, Hagerstown; brother, Earl Davis of Hagerstown; 15 grandchildren; and 13 great grandchildren.
The body was taken to the Suter-Rouzer Funeral Home Funeral.
Transcribed from the Herald Mail, Hagerstown, Maryland, Wednesday, March 11, 1959, p. 1
Funeral services for Mrs. Lulu G. Drury, who burned to death in a fire at her house on Dale Street, Tuesday, will be held Friday at 2 p. m. at the Suter Rouzer Funeral Home. The Rev. W. L. Baughman will officiate. Interment will be made in Rest Haven Cemetery. The casket will remain closed.
Transcribed from the Herald Mail, Hagerstown, Maryland, Thursday, March 12, 1959, p. 28
74-Year-Old Mrs. Lula E. Drury Fatally Burned On Dale Street - Freak Gasoline Fire Investigated
Mrs. Lula Ella Drury fell dead in the backyard as flames roared through the rear of the two-story frame house at 731 Dale Street.
The freak fire started only a few moments earlier when 26-year-old William H. Turner, husband of Mrs. Drury's granddaughter, was carrying a can of gasoline and some paintbrushes through the kitchen. The gasoline suddenly burst into flames, burning Turner's hands. He dropped the can and flames spewed over Mrs. Drury. Mrs. Drury ran screaming, her clothes aflame, into the back yard Turner and Jack R. Billman, a friend who was visiting them at the time, sought to pull Mrs. Drury's burning clothes from her body and to smother her with a blanket. Earl Renner, who lives in the other side of the double house, also saw Mrs. Drury run outside, her clothes aflame. Renner grabbed a comforter and also tried to extinguish the flames.
Turner told Fire Chief John W. Hall that he had just completed painting the hallway in the house in which The Turner family and Mrs. Drury made their home. He had placed his paintbrushes in a can of gasoline and was carrying them through the kitchen to the back porch when the can of gasoline suddenly exploded. Fire Chief Hall theorizes that gasoline fumes from the can were set off by the pilot light of a water heater in the kitchen.
Mrs. Drury, who was 74 years of age, was born in Hagerstown. She was a member of St. Matthew's EUB Church, and belonged to the American Legion Auxiliary.
Surviving are: daughters Mrs. William Rife, Phoenix Arizona; Mrs. Violet Koontz, Hagerstown; Mrs. John Worthington, Hagerstown; Mrs Helen Fournell, Culver City, Cal.; Mrs. George W. Boward, Hagerstown; Mrs. Orvin Dutrow, Hagerstown; brother, Earl Davis of Hagerstown; 15 grandchildren; and 13 great grandchildren.
The body was taken to the Suter-Rouzer Funeral Home Funeral.
Transcribed from the Herald Mail, Hagerstown, Maryland, Wednesday, March 11, 1959, p. 1
Funeral services for Mrs. Lulu G. Drury, who burned to death in a fire at her house on Dale Street, Tuesday, will be held Friday at 2 p. m. at the Suter Rouzer Funeral Home. The Rev. W. L. Baughman will officiate. Interment will be made in Rest Haven Cemetery. The casket will remain closed.
Transcribed from the Herald Mail, Hagerstown, Maryland, Thursday, March 12, 1959, p. 28
Mrs. Lula Ella Drury fell dead in the backyard as flames roared through the rear of the two-story frame house at 731 Dale Street.
The freak fire started only a few moments earlier when 26-year-old William H. Turner, husband of Mrs. Drury's granddaughter, was carrying a can of gasoline and some paintbrushes through the kitchen. The gasoline suddenly burst into flames, burning Turner's hands. He dropped the can and flames spewed over Mrs. Drury. Mrs. Drury ran screaming, her clothes aflame, into the back yard Turner and Jack R. Billman, a friend who was visiting them at the time, sought to pull Mrs. Drury's burning clothes from her body and to smother her with a blanket. Earl Renner, who lives in the other side of the double house, also saw Mrs. Drury run outside, her clothes aflame. Renner grabbed a comforter and also tried to extinguish the flames.
Turner told Fire Chief John W. Hall that he had just completed painting the hallway in the house in which The Turner family and Mrs. Drury made their home. He had placed his paintbrushes in a can of gasoline and was carrying them through the kitchen to the back porch when the can of gasoline suddenly exploded. Fire Chief Hall theorizes that gasoline fumes from the can were set off by the pilot light of a water heater in the kitchen.
Mrs. Drury, who was 74 years of age, was born in Hagerstown. She was a member of St. Matthew's EUB Church, and belonged to the American Legion Auxiliary.
Surviving are: daughters Mrs. William Rife, Phoenix Arizona; Mrs. Violet Koontz, Hagerstown; Mrs. John Worthington, Hagerstown; Mrs Helen Fournell, Culver City, Cal.; Mrs. George W. Boward, Hagerstown; Mrs. Orvin Dutrow, Hagerstown; brother, Earl Davis of Hagerstown; 15 grandchildren; and 13 great grandchildren.
The body was taken to the Suter-Rouzer Funeral Home Funeral.
Transcribed from the Herald Mail, Hagerstown, Maryland, Wednesday, March 11, 1959, p. 1
Funeral services for Mrs. Lulu G. Drury, who burned to death in a fire at her house on Dale Street, Tuesday, will be held Friday at 2 p. m. at the Suter Rouzer Funeral Home. The Rev. W. L. Baughman will officiate. Interment will be made in Rest Haven Cemetery. The casket will remain closed.
Transcribed from the Herald Mail, Hagerstown, Maryland, Thursday, March 12, 1959, p. 28
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