Deaths: Gertrude Glenna Steward/Evelyn Carol Steward/ Dorothy Jean Stewart, Jefferson Co., Ky ************************************************************************ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Submitted by: Pat45324@aol.com Date: 27 July 2001 ************************************************************************ 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 *********************************************************************** Transcribed by: Pat45324@aol.com Date: 23 Sept 2001 *********************************************************************** 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.