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THE DAILY TIMES HERALD APRIL 22, 1931
FIREMAN DEAD AFTER FALLING FROM LADDER KNOCKED THIRTY FEET BY DEBRIS; ANOTHER BADLY INJURED FAMILY BARELY ESCAPES Flames Wreck Residence Long a Landmark in Oak Cliff; Origin Unknown One fireman is dead and another has a broken arm and severe cuts on the head and face as result of a fire in which six members of a family in Oak Cliff narrowly escaped death at 4 o’clock Wednesday morning when their huge frame residence at 232 North Marsalis avenue was badly damaged by flames. W. L. Burns, 25, engine company 15, was knocked from a ladder by falling debris and fell thirty feet to the ground striking on his head. He received a fractured skull and internal injuries which caused his death at the Methodist hospital Wednesday afternoon. W. N. Eubanks, 42, engine company No. 15, fell through the second floor of the burning building and broke his left arm, was burned on the face and hands and cut on the face and head. Firemen and city policemen rescued Eubanks from the building, while other firemen kept them soaked with water. Eubanks was also sent to Dallas Methodist hospital. Family Escapes. John G. O’Rourke and five other members of the family occupying the house were awakened by the smoke and heat and took refuge in the home of neighbors. Origin of the fire has not been determined, but the occupants told firemen the place was almost completely enveloped in flames when they awakened. They barely had time to get out of the structure, they said. Burns was injured while working on a ladder at the edge of the roof, where he was directing a stream of water upon the fire. A cupela toppled and fell striking Burns in the face and knocking him from the ladder. J. M. Ferguson, city motorcycle policeman, and D. D. Barnes, assistant fire chief, dragged Burns from beneath the timber which fell upon him and carried him to an ambulance. J. F. Daniel, city policeman, and H. L. Bloodworth, fire captain, went into the burning building and carried out Eubanks when he was seemed to fall through the floor as the second story rafters gave way. The house wrecked by fire is an old land mark of Dallas known as the John Tierney residence. It was at one time the home of Leonora Corona, a singer with the Metropolitan Opera company. Firemen said they were unable to tell where the blaze started. Investigators from the office of Jack Thompson, city fire marshal, Wednesday were making as investigation of the blaze. The loss to the building and contents is estimated at between $18,000 and $20,000. Burns is survived by his parents, Mr. And Mrs. J. B. Burns of Dallas; two brothers, J. B. Burns Jr., local detective, and Robert Burns, member of the Dallas fire department; two sisters, Mrs. A. D. Bruton of Pecos, TX, and Miss Velma Burns of Dallas. Burns resided at 2404 Britton street, Oak Cliff. The body is at the Lamar and Smith Undertaking company pending funeral arrangements.
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 1931 Fire Bells to Toll Requiem For Fireman Who Died Victim Of Injuries While on Duty Fire bells will toll a requiem Thursday afternoon as the body of W. L. Burns, hose man who was killed in action, is borne to laurel Land memorial Park for burial. Mr. Burns died at 1 p.m. Wednesday of injuries sustained at 4:30 a.m. when he was pinioned beneath a burning gable that collapsed while he was fighting fire that wrecked the two and one-half story frame home of John G. O’Rourke, 232 North Marsalis avenue, at Eighth Street, Oak Cliff. Fireman W. N. Eubanks, 42 of Company No. 15, who sustained a broken arm and severe burns in a fall in the same building Wednesday night, was reported recovering. The body of Fireman Burns will lie in state Thursday at the Lamar and Smith chapel, 800 West Jefferson avenue, until early in the afternoon. Funeral services will be conducted at 3 p.m. at the Marsalis Park Baptist Church, South Ewing avenue and Birdsall street. The Rev. E. G. Birdsall, pastor will officiate. Pallbearers will be Capt. W. H. Mouse and Firemen R. A. McCord, Y. E. Lewis, Guy Ellison, A. C. Stewart, and Louis Rouse, all of which served at the same station with Burns. All members of the fire department who are not on duty at the time will attend the services in uniform and as guard of honor, accompany the body to the cemetery. Mr. O’Rourke and five other members of his family narrowly escaped when they awakened to find their home in flames of undetermined origin. The structure formerly was known as the John Tierny home, was one of the older homes of Oak Cliff. Damage was estimated at $7,500. The building and another residence adjoining were leased by the city of Oak Cliff, and used for public school purposes, housing the first public school conducted in Oak Cliff before that suburb became a part of Dallas. It was use for school purposes continued until 1892, when the old central school building on Tenth street, later used as the first high school in Oak Cliff, was completed. Fireman Burns was standing on the ladder that leaned against the gable and Fireman Eubanks is believed to have been inside the building when he fell. Assistant Fire Chief D. D. Barnes dashed through a mass of flame to reach and rescue Fireman Burns. Motorcycle Policeman J. F. Daniels assisted chief Barnes in removing Burns. A few minutes later, guided by cries of the victim Chief Barnes located Fireman Eubanks inside the building where he had fallen from the second floor. Fire Captain h. L. Bloodworth and Motorcycle Policeman J. M. Ferguson carried Eubanks to safety. Fireman Burns had just completed work at a hydrant coupling and without waiting for further orders climbed the ladder to give further service in fighting the fire when he received his fatal injury, chief Barnes related. Burns home was at 2404 Britton avenue. He is survived by his parents, Mr. And Mrs. J. B. Burns Sr., two brothers, J. B. Burns jr., Dallas city detective, and Robert Burns, a fireman, all of Dallas, and two sisters, Mrs. A. D. Bruton of Pecos and Miss Velma Burns of Dallas.
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