CEDAR COUNTY, NEBRASKA - LEO SCHAGER BADLY BURNED BY GASOLINE ==================================================================== NEGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the NEGenWeb Archives by Carol Tramp Permission granted by: Rob Dump, Editor, Cedar County News ====================================================================== CEDAR COUNTY NEWS JULY 31, 1924 LEO SCHAGER BADLY BURNED BY GASOLINE EFFORT TO LIGHT PIPE STARTS FIRE TO THE GAS SOAKED CLOTHING OF YOUTH Starting to light his pipe shortly after draining the sediment bulb under the gas tank on a Ford during which consideralbe gasoline saturated his clothing nearly cost the life of Leo Schager, residing nine miles east of Hartington, about 8:30 Wedsnesday evening. Together with his brother Lloyd, Leo had been harvesting oats, leaving the field just as dusk to start to town for additional twine. The engine was not working good and Leo decided that the gasoline contained some water, so reached under the car and drained the sediment bulb. Both boys prepared to board the car to drive home preliminary to starting to town. Leo struck a match to light his pipe the gas vapor arising from his clothing. Immediately catching fire, the blaze enveloped him. Seized with panic, he started to run, the breeze fanning the flames. With rare presence of mind, Lloyd ran after him, and grasping him, threw him to the ground and smothered the flames, his own arms being slightly burned by the flames. Lloyd was brought to town for medical treatment, his right arm being very painfully burned.