OBIT: Fred FRIEDLINE and 2 of his children Viola Pearl and Paul FRIEDLINE, 1931, 
of interest in Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Richard Boyer.

Copyright 2011.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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FRED FRIEDLINE, VIOLA PEARL FRIEDLINE and PAUL FRIEDLINE

Explosion-Fire Fatal to Three
Thawing Frozen Pipe with Blow Torch Ends Life of Father and Two Children

  Fred Friedline, 23, of Harrison, who was seriously burned in an explosion and 
fire which destroyed his home last Thursday night and resulted in the deaths of 
his two children, Viola Pearl, aged four, and Paul, aged two, died Friday 
evening at 8 o'clock in the Somerset Community Hospital.
  Friedline suffered first degree burns about the head, hands and legs when a 
blow torch, which he was using in an attempt to thaw out a frozen water pipe, 
set off a keg of powder in the basement of his home.  The fire which followed 
the explosion completely destroyed the home.
  The little girl was in the kitchen at the home at the time of the explosion 
and was cremated.  Although badly burned, the father managed to rescue his 
little son from the burning structure, but the child was so seriously burned 
that he died a short time after being removed to the Somerset hospital.
  Fred Friedline was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Friedline, of Lincoln 
Township, and had been employed as a miner at the Saxman Coal Company 
operations.  He had purchased the keg of powder a few days previously for use in 
blasting coal in the mine.
  He is survived by his parents, his wife and a five-month-old son, Charles.  
Mrs. Friedline had gone to a nearby grocery store with the baby a short time 
before the blast.  Mr. Friedline is also survived by several brothers and 
sisters.

Meyersdale Republican, February 5, 1931