TWO WOMEN, 4 CHILDREN DIE IN FLAMES

Father returns from work to find family wiped out

Lima, O.-Six persons perished early today in a fire that swept through a farm near Spencerville about 10 miles southwest of here.

Coroner Harry Lewis identified the victims as: Mrs. Sadie Messer Handshoe,32; her sister, Cletha Messer 19, and Mrs. Handshoe's four children, Ruby Marie, 7; Palestine, 6; Paul Glen 3, and Charles Donald, 3 months.

James Handshoe, the husband and father, was at work in the Lima tank depot as the fire started.  He told Lewis he saw reflections of a big fire as he left Lime about midnight for his home and as he neared Spencerville noticed the fire appeared to be in the direction of his home. 

He reached the farm at the same moment firemen from Spencerville pulled up but the five-room home was destroyed then and no sign of life was evident.

Lewis said the fire apparently started from a coal or oil stove, both of which were used in heating the home and that the six were trapped in their beds.

Miss Messer ordinarily worked the night shift at the tank depot with Handshoe, but remained home last night because of illness.

January 2, 1944
Lima, Ohio

Submitted by Randy Jackson