Clintonville, WI Gas Explosion Jul 1945

Mrs. C. F. Fredrichs Dies Early Today from Burns Received in Explosion that Wrecked Home
Death Came at 3 A. M. at New London; Funeral to be Held Saturday
Mrs. Carl F. Fredrichs, 53, died at 3 o'clock this moring at the New London Community hospital of injuries received in an explosion yesterday morning that wrecked the Fredrichs home at 71 W. Fourteenth st.
With her at the time of her death were Mr. Fredrichs, Mrs. Fredrichs' mother, Mrs. Mary Altman of Butternut, and Mrs. Otto Zoesch, Mr. Fredrichs' sister, also of Butternut.
She had been taken to the New London Community hospital shortly after the explosion, which occurred at 8 o'clock. She was suffering with third degree burns on 70 per cent of her body. Blood plasma, flown from Green Bay and Chicago, was administered.
Mr. Fredrichs, publisher and manager of the TribuneGazette, and Michael, 11-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Fredrichs, who were also in the house at the time of the explosion, both escaped injury.
The body is at Heuer's Funeral home. Services will be held at St. Rose Catholic church Saturday morning. Burial will be in the Park Falls cemetery at Park Falls.
The explosion resulted when an accumulation of gas in the walls of the house and in the furnace pipes ignited as Mrs. Fredrichs struck a match to light the gas stove in the basement. The gas is thought to have accumulated from a leak or leaks in the gas pipes.
The explosion was instantaneous. Persons living in the neighborhood said that it sounded like a blast of dynamite. It was felt by persons living more than a mile away. These described the effect as similar to an earthquake.
Michael on the second floor was thrown from his bed by the force of the explosion. Mr. Fredrichs with the help of Ronald Fillnow brought Mrs. Fredrichs up from the basement and out into the yard.
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