I just got done typing this... I nearly cried when i read the documents...
James L. Wise JR. 14, Died on April 20th, 1991 At 2:47 a.m, Saturday in Springfield, Illinois.
Doris Cardigan plugged in the space heater at around 10:30 p.m Friday when her granddaughter. 15-Year-Old Melissa Akers complained of being cold.
Cardigan fell asleep on a sofa near the heater while Akers slept on the floor.
Eight other family members were also asleep at the residence friday night.
Cadigan and Akers awoke about 2:45 a.m to find the curtain that the space heater was near had set a-blaze, The fire raced up the curtain and across the ceiling and up a stairway to the second floor of the house.
Fire and smoke rise upward to seek the avenue of least resistance.
Cardigan went to the kitchen to get water to douse the flame, but was unable to get back into the blazing living room. Then the fire moved to the kitchen door.
Four other family members were asleep down stairs.
Steve Akers, 27
Vicki Floyd, 29
Steven Floyd, 10
Christopher Floyd, 7
Were also sleeping on the first floor, Steve Akers was able to push Steven And Christopher Floyd through a bed-room window before running into the living room to try to put out the fire, Unable to stop the fire. Cadigan and Steve Akers and Vicki Floyd ran out the back door.
Akers had to stop and Help floyd when she stumbled and fell.
Three of four family members were asleep upstairs where the fire broke out and killed
Carl Wise, A uncle of one of the victims.
14-Year-Old Jamie Wise Of Pleasant Plains, said the teenager would have stayed alive had he not went back in to save two others, Jamie was staying over-night at the residence with his cousin and best friend 15-Year-Old Charlie Jacob, Carl Wise said.
It is thought that the teenagers were awoken by the fire or smoke and that they went to a window to jump to safety, Charlie jumped about 18 feet to the ground, Wise said.
Jamie was getting ready to jump, but he heard Charlie’s mother (Diane Akers, 31) and Little sister, (Stephanie Beavers) screaming for help from inside, he went back to help them, but didn’t realize how serious it was.
Jamie was believe to be overcome by the smoke by the smoke when he opened a bedroom door that had been closed.
The bodies of Jamie, Diane Akers, and Stephanie Beavers were later found by Fire-fighters on the second floor.
All were pronounced dead at the scene.
Jacob, Cardigan and Steven were treated at Memorial Hospital
-Funeral Info-
James L. Wise JR
October 14th, 1976 - April 20th, 1991
Springfield, Illinois Springfield, Illinois
Services
Bisch and Son Funeral Home
Wednesday, April 24, 1991
10:00 a.m
