Children of Henry Clankie and Hazel J. Kilmer

Children of Henry Clankie (3-8) and Hazel J. Kilmer

4-1. Richard Clankie (d. Oct. 8, 1937)

4-2. Lorraine Clankie (d. Oct. 8, 1937)

4-3. Judy (Robert) Sorenson

4-4. George Clankie

4-5. Randall Clankie

4-6. Larry Clankie

4-7. David Clankie

Rockford Morning Star

Oct. 9, 1937

2 Children Die as Home Burns

Parents Hurt Attempting to Save Son, Baby

Report Henry Clankie Near Death from Burns

Perish in Sleep

Flames Block Rescue as Suburban Home is Destroyed

Two sleeping children were burned to death and their parents seriously burned in an inferno of fire which swept through the Henry Clankie home, 809 Sawyer Road, at 8:30 O'clock last night.

The fire victims were Richard, three years old, and Lorraine, four months old, only children of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Clankie.  The 25 year-old father was badly burned about the lower extremities and arms.  His condition was reported as critical at St. Anthony's Hospital early today.  Mrs. Clankie suffered less serious injuries.

The Clankie home, a one-story structure located about seven blocks south east of the city, was destroyed by the fire which swept through the building with lightning like rapidity.  An explosion in a wood burning stove in the living room resulted when Clankie lighted a fire after pouring a quantity of Kerosene on the wood.

Ironically the tragedy occured at the close of 'Fire Prevention Week."

Recover Charred Bodies

The charred bones of the two children were not found until the house had been destroyed.  They were recovered from the smoldering ruins by city firement about 45 mins after the fire broke out.  The charred remains of the boy were found on the bedsprings, while the baby's remains were in a baby buggy in which she was sleeping when the fire broke out.

According to the story of the tragedy told by the father as he lay writhing with pain at St. Anthony Hospital all four members of the family were in the living room when he touched a match to the kerosene soaked wood.

He was enveloped in flames when accumulated gases exploded and ran to the home of his sister-in-law, Mrs. Adelbert Patnou, 811 Sawyer Road.  The Patnous wrapped him in a blanket then joined the Clankies in trying to get into the Clankie home to rescue the children.  They managed to break the windows of the house, but were driven back by the roaring flames when they tried to reach the trapped children. 

Mrs. Clankie, 29, who suffered cuts on the right arm and hand as she broke glass in the windows of the house and had her hair and eye brows singed by the flames in attempting to rescue her children, said she was in the kitchen when the explosion occurred. She said that the flames barred her entrance to the living room and she was unable to get back into the house after she had run next door to summon aid.

Lack of water service handicapped efforts of city firemen to battle the flames.  A new electric pump recently installed at the Patnou home failed to function for a time and neighbors carried water to the house in an effort to extinguish the fire.

Patnou Home Damaged

The flames ignited the Patnou home, but this fire was extinguished without much damage. 

Patnou said the first he knew of the tragedy was when Mrs. Clankie shouted for aid.  As he rushed out he said the entire Clankie home was enveloped by flames.  He said repeated efforts fo the Clankies and neighbors to get into the Clankie home to rescue the children were blocked by the leaping flames.

After treatment at Rockford Hospital, Mrs Clankie was taken to the home of her father-in-law, Henry Clankie, 819 Miriam Avenue.  She became hysterical at the hospital.

Last updated Aug. 17, 2004

Topic ONE here

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Topic THREE here