Fillbeck, Henry

died Dec 18, 1923, age 29, and about 20 others narrowly escaped death this morning about 5 am when the Brownhead boarding house located about two miles north of Picher Oklahoma near the Silver Fox Mine, and conducted by Mr. and Mrs. Edward Moore, was destroyed by fire. Fillbeck's body was burned to a crisp and was not recovered until after the building had been totally destroyed and the flames died down. He was employed as a hard rock lead and zinc shoveler at the Silver Fox Mine but had not been working for some time on account of sickness. The origin of the fire is unknown. The fire was not discovered until the entire two-story frame structure was a mass of flames. A number of the boarders it was said, were awakened about the same time by the dense smoke in the rooms and the crackling of the rapidly growing flames. Efforts were made at once to arouse everyone in the various rooms but in several instances it was impossible to reach the rooms on account of the terrific heat. Many of the boarders were forced to flee in their night clothes and seek shelter at nearby homes. Fillbeck is said to have relatives residing at Cardin Oklahoma but thus far the names have not been learned. He is said to have been a victim of the great explosion that took place at the Beaver Hotel, at Fourth and Picher Street, Picher Oklahoma, some time ago, when several were injured and considerable damage was done. Fillbeck sustained serious burn injuries at that time and from which he was carrying very noticeable scars on his face and several scars on his hands. His body is being held at the Todd undertaking parlors, pending definite funeral arrangements. It is expected that an inquest will be held at Treece Kansas, today.

D. F. Fillbeck of Urbanette Arkansas, arrived in Picher last night in response to a message informing him of the sudden death of his son, Henry Fillbeck, who lost his life yesterday morning when the Brownhead boarding house was destroyed by fire. Walker Armstrong, of Fairland Oklahoma, a brother-in-law, also arrived last night.

No definite arrangements have been made for the funeral of Henry Fillbeck, 29 years old. It has not been decided when the coroner's inquest will be held, which is governing the funeral arrangements.

The body of Henry Fillbeck, 29 years old, who lost his life Tuesday morning when the Brownhead boarding house was destroyed by fire, will be shipped by the Todd undertaking company, Picher, today to Urbanette Arkansas, for burial. The deceased's parents, Mr. and Mrs. D. F. Fillbeck, reside at Urbanette. The father, who arrived in Picher Tuesday night, will accompany the body. The other relatives are two sisters, Mrs. Sarah Allen, residing near Cardin Oklahoma, and Mrs. Walker Armstrong, of Fairland Oklahoma. Coroner J. S. McCaulley of Columbus Kansas, arrived in Picher last night and officially viewed the body at 7:30. Following this and a brief investigation of the circumstances surrounding the untimely death of Mr. Fillbeck it was decided that an inquest was unnecessary. The deceased was a hard rock lead and zinc miner but had not been working for some weeks on account of having had an arm injured while working at the Silver Fox Mine as a shoveler. He was said to have been partially deaf, to which was attributed his not being aware of the fire at the boarding house, in which he was overcome with the dense smoke and terrific heat.