Pals, Harold 1932-1937

PALS, MOUW

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke-volunteer
Date: 9/18/2013 at 23:32:14

Source: Sioux Center News(3-4-1937)

Neighbors and onlookers could hardly realize that a tragedy was enacted in this short space of time right before their eyes. As the embers cooled, five year old, Harold was found huddled face down under burned tatters of blankets. A small section of blanket under his tiny body was the only unburned article around him. His body was taken from the warped bed springs and gently wrapped by A.D. Van Etten and Jack Johnson in blankets and transferred to the funeral home. While the ambulance was away the body of Mrs. Pals was found just a few feet away from the back door. Little Harold was close to the broken-in bedroom window but his location could not be determined before the fire died down. The building was completely destroyed.

Probably the correct version of the fire is that which was told to Maurice Van Leeuwen by Gerrit Pals as Maurice took the burned man to the hospital. Gerrit said he had moved and set up the cook stove Saturday and Monday morning his wife had said “Shall I start the stove.” After Gerrit’s answer it is assumed that she poured kerosene into the stove which probably still had some hot coals in it and that the resulting explosion was caused by the vapor from the heated kerosene. Mrs. Pals screamed and Gerrit ran inside to find the whole room aflame. He took hold of his wife but lost her. He remembers Harold screaming through the house but could not locate the little fellow. Gerrit’s face and neck were badly burned, his hair burned off below his cap, his shirt burned off. Maurice Van Leeuwen says the time of the fire was shortly after 7 A.M. as he was on the grounds about ten minutes after 7. Mr. Pals is coming through all right at the time this is written Wednesday night. He can hear and see again and some of the swelling is leaving his face.

Harold was Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit and Katherine (Mouw) second child, the first born dying in infancy, and would have been six years old. He is survived by his father, Gerrit and one year sister, Carol Elaine. Also his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Mouw.