12 YEAR OLD BOY, SLEEPING IN FURNACE, BURNS TO DEATH
Louisville, Kentucky (JFK+50) On February 8, 1925, Associated Press reports that 12 year old Albert Lee Greaver was burned to death in a blast furnace* belonging to the National Forge Company located here in Louisville.
Although able to say before he died that he had laid down beside the furnace, there was no explanation of how he ended up inside.
Janitor John Jones, obviously unaware of the boy's presence started the fire which apparently was his morning custom.
Mrs. William E. Greaver, Albert's mother, could not explain how her son happened to be in the furnace but she stated that he frequently stayed away from home at nights.
The AP says when the boy awakened, he leaped from the furnace "a living ball of fire."
*blast furnace is a type of metallurgical furnace used in smelting to produce metals such as pig iron, lead and copper.
SOURCE
"Asleep In Furnace, Lad Burns To Death," The Sunday Star, Washington, D.C., February 8, 1925, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
