Obituaries:  Junior Wallace, Sabine, Natchitoches Parish       W-420
Source:  Sabine Index, Many, La., Apr 29, 1966
Submitted by: Carl Dilbeck
              carlrad@earthlink.net




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Junior Wallace

  The fiery explosion of an oil pipeline near the Hall's Brake
community in Natchitoches Parish, claimed its fourth victim
Sunday, when William Curry, 39, Negro, of Many, died in a
Shreveport hospital.

  Curry had received second and third degree burns over 90 per
cent of his body. He died shortly after arrival in Shreveport,
after being transferred from a Many hospital.

  Drew Edwards of Lisbon, and George Koonce Jr. of Booker, Tex.,
both Negroes, were also injured. Edwards is reported in critical
condition in Doctor's Hospital in Shreveport. He received second
and third degree burns over 25 per cent of his body. Koonce is
still in Fraser Hospital at Many.

  Those killed Saturday, were Mose Clem, about 38, Junior Wallace,
about 40, and Otha Holden, about 24, all Natchitoches Negroes.

  The leak continued to burn Sunday, despite intermittent rain,
which put out the fire in the surrounding four to five acres of
timberland.

  Flames from the burning pipeline shot up several hundred feet,
after fumes from the leaking line were ignited from a fire, which
members of the repair crew said they had built nearby.

  The blaze occurred while the men were digging a hole to reach
the leak, and their clothes had become saturated with the oil.

  Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Sam James theorized that the leaking
oil, which covered a nearby creek, had resulted in the fumes,
which started the fire. He said the pipeline had been leaking for
some time.

  The line reportedly was installed about two years ago, and was
in partial use.

  Additional repair crews bringing trucks and repair equipment
from Many, arrived on the scene a few minutes after the blaze
occurred, and turned in the call for help.

  Seven or eight ambulances, and forest fire fighting crews from
Coushatta, Many, and Natchitoches, arrived on the scene about 9
p.m., as well as members of the Sheriff's Department, and State
Police.

  The pipeline is owned by Scurlock Oil Co., with headquarters in
Houston, Tex., and local offices located in Many.

  The six inch pipeline, carrying crude oil, runs from Many oil
field to Lake End.