Deaths:  Gertrude Glenna Steward/Evelyn Carol Steward/ Dorothy Jean Stewart, Jefferson Co., Ky

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Submitted by: Pat45324@aol.com
Date: 27 July 2001
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Flames Prevent Rescue of C.A. Stewart's Family Near Jeffersontown

     Flames that swept throughthe five room farmhouse of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Alvin Steward, near the 
Waterson Trail, a mile and a half southwest of Jeffersontown, cost the lives of mrs. Steward and the 
couple;s two daughters and beat back Mr. Steward, who tried franticallyto rescue them at 5 o'clock 
Saturday morning.
     Dr. Roy L. Carter, Coroner, believed the mother, Mrs. Gertrude Glenna Steward, 28 years old, and the 
children, Evelyn Carol Steward, 8, and Dorothy Jean Stewart, 6, probably were suffocated before the 
flames reached them.  Mr. Stewart ran in.  A wall of flames forced him back.  The flames were 
sweeping the residence and the ceilings of the dining-room and the kitchen were caving in.  Mr. Steward 
could hear the faint moans of his wife and he tried to reach the room, but the flames and the intense heat 
drove him back.  Within a few moments after he staggered from the house the celings of the kitchen and 
dining-rom collapsed.  
     Mr. Steward shouted to Thomas Moore, a Negro who lives a short distance away.  Moore and other 
neighbors attracted by the blaze rushed to the scene while Moore's son, George Moore, 15, ran to the 
home of Joseph Handiman, a quarter of amile away, to summon the Jeffersontown Fire Department.  The 
neighbors were powerless to help.  The front wall of the residence was saved by the firemen.
     Mr. Steward had dindled a fire in a coal stove inthe kitchen at 4:30 o'clock inthe morning, and, after 
awakening Mrs. Stewart, went out to milk and feed.
     There was a coal oil stove in the kitchen also, and it was believed that the coal stove became 
overheated and ignited the coal oil, causing a rapid spread of the blaze.      It was believed

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Transcribed by: Pat45324@aol.com
Date:  23 Sept 2001
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No date given.  Probably early 1930s.

Flames Prevent Rescue of C.A. Stewart's Family near Jeffersontown.

    Flames that swept through the five room farmhouse of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Alvin Stewart, near the 
Watterson Trail, a mile and a half southwest of Jeffersontown, cost the lives of Mrs. Stewart and the 
couple's two daughters and beat back Mr. Stewart, who tried frantically to rescue them at 5 o'clock 
Saturday morning.
     Dr. Roy L. Carter, Coroner, believed the mother, Mrs. Gertrude Glenna Steward 28 years old, and the 
children Evelyn Carol Stewart 8, and Dorothy Jean Stewart 6, probably were suffocated before the 
flames reached them.
        Mr. Stewart, who was feeding and milking the cows in the barn, 200 yards away, rushed to the house 
when he discovered the flames.  The smoke was pouring from the back door, but Mr. Stewart ran in.  A 
wall of flames forced him back.  The flames were sweeping the residence and the ceilings of the 
dining room and the kitchen were caving in.  Mr. Stewart could hear the faint moans of his wife and he 
tried to reach the room but the flames and the intense heat drove him back.  Within a few moments after 
he staggered from the house the ceilings of the kitchen and dining room collapsed.
     Mr. Steward shouted to Thomas Moore, a Negro who lives a short distance away.  Moore and other 
neighbors attracted by the blaze rushed to the scene while Moore's son, George Moore, 15, ran to the 
home of Joseph Hendman, a quarter of a mile away to summon the Jeffersontown Fire Department.  The 
neighbors were powerless to help.  The front wall of the residence was saved by the firemen.
     There was a coal oil stove in the kitchen also, and it was believed that the coal stove became 
overheated and ingnted the coal oil, causing a rapid spread of the blaze.
     It was believed that Mrs. Stewart was the last to become unconscious and that she had awakened as 
the smoke and flames were pouring into the room.  Almost asphyxiated and seeking an exit for the 
children and herself, she had opened the dooor several inches and then fallen unconscious.
     The house, owned by R.A. Harpring, 2316 Saratoga Drive, was damaged approximately $4,000.  The 
Stewarts had lived at the home since 1927.
     Mrs. Stewart is survived also by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Stivers, of Eminence, Ky.