Notes:
Easton Express, Saturday, May 3, 1969, Page 1
Fire in Home Kills 4 Son of On-Duty Easton Policeman
Mother of Youngster Driven From Structure
Four yound sons of an on-duty Easton policeman lost their lives early today in
the fire which swept through their half of a double-house structure on South
Side. The mother of the youngsters was driven from the home by the fierce flames.
The children of Patrolman Harold L. and Mrs. Frances Beam,
941 W. Berwick St., were pronounced dead at the scene.
They were Todd, 9 months; John 3; Jeffery, 4 and Harold
L. Jr., 5.
The family has no other children.
Easton Fire ChiefeEarle Brotzman said the fire, which broke
out in the rear of the Beam home, may have been caused by
faulty wiring.
It was the worst fire in Easton's history in terms of loss
of life.
Northampton County Coroner Joseph Reichel said the children
apparently died of smoke inhalation. The three oldest were
sleeping in a bedroom at the rear of the home and the baby
in the couple's bedroom
The bodies were taken to Easton Hospital and later to the
Adams Funeral Home.
Beam and his wife, who were not hurt in the fire, were placed
under sedation. The patrolman has been home for a snack about
an hour before the fire was discovered at about 2:50 a.m.
Brotzman said South Side firemen found the rear of the Beam
residence and an adjoing home at 939 W. Berwich St. engulfed
in flames.
Mrs. Ethel Roberts and her two daughters, who lived in the
adjoining home, fled to safety.
Brotzman said shortly after South Side firemen reached the
scene, a general alarm was sounded and every available fireman
and pice of equipment from the Central and College Hill fire
stations was summoned to the scene.
The intintial alarm was turning in at a fire alarm box at
McKeen and Wilkes-Barre Streets about 2:50 a.m. by Daniel
Reagle, 15, of 1000 W. Wilkes-Barre St.
Reagle said he went to the corner of McKeen and Berwick
street to direct the fire engines. He then went to the Beam
home with the policemen who arrived first and they began
pounding on the door to wake the family.
Reagle said shortly after that Mrs. Beam came out on the
porch roof.
Easton Patrolman George Morris, who was off-duty was one
of the first to arrive at the scene. He said th found Mrs.
Beam on the front porch roof screaming hysterically.
Morris climbed up a pole supporting the porch roof and climbed
onto the roof. He said Mrs. Beam was trying to go back into
the house, but he force her over to the Roberts side to prevent
her from being hurt.
Morris said Mrs. Beam was screaming that her children were
in the home and he made an attempt to save the children.
Morris siad he went into front bedroom but was forced back
out dby the intense heat.
Minutes later, Morris siad, Beam arrived at his home.
It was reported Beam, on duty in center city, heard the
fire reort on his readio and reaced to the scene, not knowing
it was his own home. He too, tried to get into the house
bu was forced back, firemen siad.
Other neighbors and firemen also tried to get into the home,
but were driven back by the heat. Mrs. Beam reportedly told
one fierman, "My baby was only four feet from me in
the crib, but I coudn't reach him. Only four feet and I couldn't
reach him..."
Brotzman said the fire started in the rear of the home and
apparently was caused by faulty electrical wiring. He added
the fire might have been smoudleing undetected for some time.
Brotzman said when firemen arrived "it was a little
to late" to save the children. He added when he arrived
he understood the three children sleeping in the rear bedroom
were already dead.
Firemen said two of the boys bodies were found at the door
of their bedroom and the other on the floor beside his bed.
The bodies were discovered about an hour after the fire
was bruoght under control and were removed by the Easton
Emergency Squad.
There was fire damage to nearly every room in the Beam home,
the chief said. The Roberts home had fire, smoke and water
damage and there also was damage to the home at 945 W. Berwick
StT. next to the Beam home.
Donald Jackson, of 935 W. Berwick st., said he and his wife
and chldren were awaken about 3 a.m. Jackson siad he looked
out his rear window and saw the rear of the Beam and Roberts
dwellings in flames.
Jackson said Morris then came over and climbed up onto the
roof.
They said Mrs. Beam was taken to the home of her husband's
brother, John K., at 1012 W. Berwick St., about a half-block
away.
This morning several cars drove by the front of the Beam
home and slowed down to examine the home. Neighbors in the
vicinity stood in small groups, discussing the tradegy.
Beam has been a city patrolman four years. He and his family
lived at 921 W. Werwick St. until about a year ago.
In a previous fire disaster on Feb 12, 1962, three children
of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Alvin, 443 Lehigh St., died in a fire
in their home. The children were Patricia 4; Edward Jr. nearly
2 and Ann Jeanette, 1.
Harold Beam Jr. was born in Phillipsburg. The other three
children were born in Easton. Their mother is the former
Frances Shireman.
Survivors include the paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs.
John Beam, and the maternal grandmother, Mrs. James Dailey,
all of Easton.
Funeral services will be held at the convenience of the
family at the Adams Funeral Home. |
