Pardue - Patricia
Source: Waveland Independent, Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana, Dec 1, 1949
Mrs. Clara HENDRICKSON of Waveland has the sympathy of the community after word was received of the tragic death of her daughter, Mrs. Paul Evelyn PARDUE 20 and her 3 small children, George Lee, Jr, 4; Pauline Patricia 2 ½ and Penny Sue 4 months. The tragedy occurred about 5:30 Thanksgiving morning when Mrs. Pardue awoke and started a fire in the heating stove of the log cabin home, located two miles north of Turkey Run State Park. The cabin was completely destroyed following the explosion when Mrs. Pardue threw gasoline on dying embers. In an attempt to save his family and home, George L. Pardue, 24, jumped through a window in his night clothes and drove to a neighbor who summoned the Marshall Fire Department. The father was not seriously burned but was a victim of hysterical shock and was unable to tell a coherent story of what had happened. The body of Mrs. Pardue was found near the front door of the cabin with that of Penny Sue nearby. The bodies of the two other children were found in the bed they occupied together. The Pardue family had moved there from Indianapolis two years ago. Mr. Pardue was employed as a ditcher on the farm where he lived. The bodies of Mrs. Pardue and her children were taken to Indianapolis where services were held. - transcribed with tears by kbz