Frank & Frances Curiel Die of Burns 1957

CURIEL, HARRY, KLEIN

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 11/28/2016 at 19:10:15

The Telegraph Herald, Thursday, January 3, 1957

2 Children in Critical Condition
Father, Daughter Die of Burns, Family is
Left Homeless
~
The father of seven children and one of the daughters he tried to save died Thursday morning in the tragic aftermath of a blaze which destroyed their homes in Lower Balltown Wednesday night.

Dead are Frank Curiel, 41, a Dubuque Packing Co. employee, and his fifteen old daughter, Frances, the father died about 6 a.m. of burns received when flames flashed through their rented frame home in northern Dubuque County.

Curiel was credited with saving the lives of three of his children before collapsing in front of the burning house.

Mrs. Curiel, and two younger children, Linda, 5, and Steve 3 were less seriously burned. Three other children, John, 17, Dick, 12, and Jimmy, 8, were not injured, according to reports.

However, Mrs. Curiel and all six children who were at home when the fire broke out were taken to Xavier Hospital. The oldest daughter, Pat. works and lives in Dubuque and was not there when the fire started.

Burns on Feet

The George Klein home, directly across the road from the burning house, was used as a first aid station for the injured children until the Dubuque County ambulance and the Epworth Emergency vehicle arrived to take them to the hospital.

One of the children was burned on the feet, but ran barefoot to the house across the road. Footprints in blood were stamped in the snow and ice from the road, around the side of the Klein home to the back door.

Blood spots marked the floor of the Klein kitchen where the injured child waited for the ambulance. They were treated by doctor from Holy Cross.

Both the Sherrill and Epworth fire departments sped to the fire but could do nothing to save the burning two-story home. A strong wind blew directly across the road and charred several large cedar trees, one of the next to the Klein house.

Firemen concentrated their efforts on keeping the fire from spreading. Large sparks flew several hundred yards, eyewitnesses said.

Mrs. Curiel was apparently the first to discover the fire which is believed to have started when a second-floor oil burner exploded. She tried to call for help, but, while making the call, collapsed from the dense smoke.

Leander Klein, who lives across the road, noticed the fire and tried to telephone for help, but, with all but one house in Lower Balltown on one party line, he could not give through because the Curiel telephone receiver was left off the hook.

Call for firemen and ambulances had to be made from the very last home on the east end of Lower Balltown. How much this delayed fighting the fire and aiding the injured could not be determined.

Mass of Flames

Leander Klein said the fire started on the second floor and within 20 minutes, the whole house was a mass of flames. The father, according to witnesses, ran back into the house three times, each time carrying out one of his children.

He collapsed just at the front door and rolled outside after his last heroic effort, Klein said. Two of the children made it outside by themselves, Klein added.

Klein said one of the children was dragged to safety from just inside the front door.

One of the two children who came out unaided was believed to have been Frances.

“We couldn’t tell for sure because her hair was burned off.” Klein said.

The home was owned by George Klein. The loss was estimated at between $6,000 and $7,000. The home, which also had an attic, was built in 1906. Some of the children slept in the attic. The Curiel family moved from to Balltown from Dubuque three years ago.

With Aunt

Three Curiel children not now hospitalized – John, Dick and Jimmy are - are staying with their aunt, Mrs. Lloyd Harry, 1216 Isborn St.

Mrs. Harry has six children of her own. She sent the four of school age off to school, as usual Thursday. The oldest Curiel girl, Pat, lives with the Harrys and works in Dubuque.

Mrs. Harry was roused by a phone call from a relative in Balltown saying a house was on fire, probably the Curiel’s. Mr. Harry distraught, called various relatives in Balltown with not response, finally talked to the operator and found it was indeed her brother’s house that burned. She jumped in the car and started for Balltown and met the returning ambulance on the way. The three unburned children, John, Dick and Jimmy are staying with her. John and Pat were at the hospital – with Mrs. Curiel Thursday morning.

Restless

She said the two youngest burned children, Linda and Steve, are hard to keep quite. Their hands are bandaged.

Mrs. Curiel’s father resided in Connecticut and is expected to come to Dubuque.

Mrs. Harry said she will keep John, Dick and Jimmy with her since they well feel better if they are together. “We’ll manage somehow,” she said.

Double services will be held at the Haudenshield Funeral Home, 2170 Central Ave. at a time to be announced. Burial will be in Pleasant Grove Cemetery, McGregor, Ia.

Mr. Curiel was born May 1, 1916, at Dubuque. He later lived at McGregor, Ia., where he was educated, then resided fourteen years in Dubuque before moving to Dubuque.