News: Death of Markel Brothers, 1921, Hanover, York County, PA

Contributed and transcribed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

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Hanover, Dec. 29 – Three little boy were fatally burned, and the mother of them 
all is in a serious condition as the result of the explosion of a can containing 
coal oil Wednesday afternoon in their home here.  All were rushed to the York 
hospital, after receiving first aid treatment from four Hanover physicians.  The 
first one died at 9:30; second at 10:20, and the third at 11:40, last night, 
about one hour apart.

The dead are Melvin Markel, aged 8 years; Clair Markel, aged 4 years, and Harold 
Markel, aged 6 years, all sons of Monroe Markel, 29 Allegheny street.  Mrs. 
Mazie Markel, aged 26 years, the mother, with severe burns about the lower 
limbs, arms and hands, is in a serious condition from the shock, but is expected 
to recover.

The accident occurred about 4 o’clock, while the little ones were playing in the 
sitting room of their home with Christmas toys.

In the absence of the mother, who was in the kitchen at the time, one of the 
boys poured oil from the can upon the fire of a heater in the sitting room.  
Although nothing absolutely definite in the matter could be determined, it is 
thought the can exploded.  Supporting this belief is the fact that the vessel 
was later found in the room near the stove with the bottom blown out.

The mother would not have been burned had she not, after hearing the explosion 
and the terrified screams of the children, ran to their assistance.  In tearing 
their clothes from their bodies or attempting to aid them, her clothing was set 
afire and thus the four, literally human torches, ran screaming from the house 
to the rear yard.

Here they were seen by neighbors who ran to their assistance.  The eldest of the 
children had a bucket of water dashed over him by a daughter of Joseph Rickrode, 
residing nearby, but the flames literally had to die out before he could be 
helped.  He was found lying unconscious later and practically naked.  Just how 
the flames on the other three were put out was not learned, but lying about in 
the yard of J. E. Burns, the next door neighbor, here and there, were fragments 
of burned clothing, which proved the major portion of their garments had been 
consumed before the flames were extinguished.  The shoes on the victims could 
not be removed until cut from their feet.

The two youngest children had the hair burned from their heads, and the bodies 
of all three were burned to a crisp in many places.

The explosion set fire to the interior of the room, burning up a rug, shades and 
charring the furniture before it was put out by neighbors, who formed a bucket 
brigade.

Adams County Independent – Friday, December 30, 1921