Schroeder, Sarah (1904-1925)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 21 July 1925 p. 1

Birth date: 1904

text of obituary:

FIVE DEAD IN REEDLEY BLAST ______

H. D. Schroeder & Four Children Killed in Mysterious Explosion _______

(Reedley Exponent)

An explosion of unknown origin and of terrific force destroyed the home of H. D. Shroeder two and one-quarter miles south and three-quarters of a mile east of Reedley early Thursday morning. The building was destroyed by fire immediately and five members of the family lost their lives, their charred bodies being removed from the wreckage by P. J. Wiens Thursday morning. Those who lost their lives were the father, H. D. Schroeder, three daughters, Myrtle 24, Sarah 21, and Louise 13, and a son Arnold 8.

The explosion was of such force a number of people in Reedley were awakened by the detonation and homes of people living in the neighborhood were shaken by the force of the explosion.

Terrifying screams of one of the girls were heard a mile from the home immediately following the explosion, but when neighbors reached the place, all was still. The house was a mass of flames, however, and no one could enter the building. J. W. Thiessen, S. A. Knaak and J. A. Kliewer were among the first to reach the place. The roof of the building had not fallen in at that time says Knaak, portions of the sides of the dwelling holding it. It fell in soon after they arrived, however.

The sleeping quarters of the family were on the second floor of the home and the indications are that the second floor fell straight down from the force of the explosion, as the beds were found upright and four of the charred bodies were found in bed, those of the father and boy in one, one of the older girls in another, and the youngest girl in another. The body of one of the older girls was found in a corner of the burned building. The supposition is she was the least injured and it is believed she is the one whose screams were heard.

That the force of the explosion was terrific is indicated all around the place. Wrecked portions of the building were found on all sides of the house, pieces being picked up in the vineyard adjoining the house fourteen rows distant. Pieces of glass may be seen imbedded in trees.

Whether the fire was started before the explosion or after seems to be unknown. The S. A. Knaak family lives only a short distance north of the Schroeder place. They arose from their beds immediately after the explosion and observed the building in a mass of flames. The destruction of the home by fire was complete, only a mass of burning embers being observable Thursday morning.

Mrs. Schroeder, wife and mother of the victims, had been called to Hillsboro, Kansas, by the death of her father. She is said to be on her way home and efforts to get in communication wither her have not been successful. An invalid son is the only other living member of the family. He is confined in a hospital at Fresno, it is said, and no hope of his regaining health is held out.

The charred bodies of the five members of the family were removed from the wreckage by P. J. Wiens to Reedley early Thursday morning. Chief J. W. Gillingham, Lee Hays and A. Shaw of the Reedley fire department took the chemical equipment of the department to the scene and made it possible for the undertaker to get to the bodies. The Dinuba fire department also went to the scene and assisted in the removal of the bodies.

Sheriff R. L. Hill and Coroner Hadley of Tulare County visited the place and made an inspection of the disaster and viewed the premises. Sheriff Hill is of the opinion the explosion could not have been caused by an accident, but must have been done by design.

The Shroeder family came to Reedley from Kansas about nine years ago and have resided in this community ever since. They were highly respected people and had no known enemies and it is difficult to understand what could prompt such a dastardly deed if the tragedy was planned.

Fire Marshal’s Theory of Explosion

Fire Marshal W. Ralph Williams of the Fresno fire department visited the scene of the disaster yesterday and made an investigation of the conditions and surroundings. The fire marshal is inclined to the belief that the explosion was one of gasoline vapors, ignited by an electric spark.

Williams learned that an oil stove was used in the home for cooking, and that gasoline was sometimes used in the stove. It is his belief that gasoline leaked out of the stove onto the floor and because of excessive humidity the vapor had stayed close to the floor, rising not more than four feet.

As the family slept on the upper floor of the home they are said to have kept the windows and doors on the lower floor closed. Williams stated that the turning on of an electric light of the pressing of a wall button switch would have provided the necessary spark to ignite the gasoline, a gallon of which, vaporized, has the explosive force of 80 pounds of dynamite.

The eveness of the violence of the explosion coupled with the fact that the walls were shoved out at the bottom with greater force than at the top, indicate, says Williams, the explosion of gasoline vapors.

To Ship Bodies East

An inquest into the cause of death will be conducted today by Coroner Hadley of Tulare county. The bodies will then be prepared by P. J. Wiens for shipment to Hillsboro, Kansas, for burial.

It was learned that Mrs. Schroeder had not left Hillsboro for her California home and the news of the tragedy is said to have been such a shock to her she is in a critical condition.

Note

We understand that the funeral of the unfortunate victims of this disaster is to be held at the Springfield Church, north of Goessel, Friday at 2 p. m. The remains will be laid to rest in the Springfield Cemetery.

28 Jul 1925 p. 1

SERVICES FOR CALIF. FAMILY ______

Friends Gather for Memorial Services of Explosion Victims, July 19 ______

(Reedley Exponent)

Memorial services for the H. D. Schroeder family whose lives were lost when their home was destroyed by explosion and fire last Thursday morning were held Sunday evening at the old high school when the evening services were devoted to the memorial for the unfortunate victims of the terrible tragedy.

Rev. Abraham Baerg, leader of the K. M. B. Church, of which the Schroeder family were members, was in charge. A large crowd, numbering not less than 1000, gathered to pay their respects to the unfortunate ones. Short talks were made by Rev. Baerg, Rev. Peter Siemens, Elder J. A. Brower, Rev. J. A. Wiens, Rev. J. H. Richert, Rev. D. C. Eitzen, Rev. K. K. Isaac and Rev. J. W. Neufeld.

Remains of the five victims of the disaster, charred beyond recognition, were shipped to Hillsboro, Kansas, Monday. They were accompanied by Rev. Peter Siemens and wife and the invalid son who was in a Fresno sanitarium at the time of the disaster. The wife and mother is at Hillsboro, Kansas, to which place she went to attend the funeral of her father. Her condition is said to be critical as a result of shock upon receipt of news of the disaster to her family.

4 Aug 1925 p. 4

H. D. Schroeder was born in Gnadenheim, Marion County, Kansas, on Feb. 27, 1978 [sic]. His early education was received in Springfield. In after years he had the opportunity to attend McPherson College, which he appreciated very much. Reared by Christian parents he soon became a follower of the Master and was baptized by his uncle J. A. Wiebe on Dec. 16, 1894, thereby becoming a member of the Springfield Church, which membership he transferred in 1919 to the Zion Church at Dinuba, Calif., at all times serving as best he knew how.

On May 16th, 1900, the deceased was united in the bonds of matrimony to his now bereaved widow. God blessed this happy marriage with 5 children, three daughters and two sons, only the oldest son reviving and mourning the seemingly untimely death of the following:

Myrtle, born on Sept. 13, 1901, in Marion County, Kansas. In her youth she gave her heart to her Savior, in that she was baptized on June 27, 1915, and becoming a member of the Church at Springfield. After attending the school at this place she attended Zoar school one winter, Torrey’s Bible School at Los Angeles for one year and one winter at Beulah College at Upland. She attained the age of 24 years, 1 month and 19 days:

Sarah, born Oct. 22, 1904, in Marion County, Kansas, baptized by her grandfather, P. A. Wiebe, on June 24, 1917, and received into Church membership, endowed with many gifts, which she applied as best she knew how. She graduated from the Dinuba High School in 1924 and planned to attend school at Hillsboro this fall. She was very active in S. S. work, where she taught a class. Her favorite hymn was, “Keep on the Firing Line.” Her earthly sojourn lasted 20 years, 9 months and 24 days;

Louise Henrietta, the youngest daughter, born near Springfield on Oct. 15, 1912, ever very dear and obedient, the sunshine of the home. In spite of her good health she had experienced many days of trial. At the age of 7 she was down with rheumatism, later on pneumonia was attracted which left her with heart trouble. All these earthly troubles awakened the desire to become converted, which experience she realized during a revival this last spring, receiving baptism on Easter Sunday in a class of 16. Her age is 12 years, 9 months and 1 day;

Arnold, the youngest son, the darling of the home, born Sept. 12, 1916, healthy and happy, brought many a ray of sunshine into the home as well as into the sick room of his invalid brother, reached the age of 8 years, 10 months and 4 days.

In 1915 the family removed to Buhler, Kansas, where the deaceased [sic] was employed as miller for 5 years. In they year 1919 they went to Reedley, Calif., where a beautiful home was erected. On Dec. 13, 1919, Edgar took sick with typhoid fever but God gave grace and left him regain health, but for only a brief while, attending school just one day, he came home with the influenza. Because of the weakened condition of his body this illness left him an invalid, and especially this shock of bereavement has found its effect upon him.

On May 16th of this year the deceased was permitted to celebrate the 25th wedding anniversary with his now bereaved life’s companion, trusting that the same God who thus far had been their guide and mainstay, would not depart from them in the future.

On July 16, only a short time since this happy occasion, the community was saddened by the mysterious explosion of their home, bringing ruin to the buildings and death to the lives of those mentioned above. The deceased reached the age of 47 years, 5 months and 19 days, leaving to mourn the sadly bereaved wife, son Edgar, 4 brothers and three sisters and a host of friends.