| Notes |
- from "California Birth Index, 1905-1995" (ancestry.com)
Arthur B Perkins was born 4 May 1918 in Los Angeles Co, CA. Mother maiden name is Obrien.
- from "The Santa Clarita Signal", 7 Jan 1954 (newspapers.com)
GAS BLAST FATAL TO ART PERKINS Jr.
Arthur B. Perkins, oldes son of Mr. and MRs. A/B. Perkins was killed Sunday noon by an explosion of fire damp gas in a shallow well which he was cleaning out on his cattle ranch near Durango, Colorado. His wife, Mrs. Maxine Prager Perkins, made a heroic attempt to get him out of the well, was herself overcome by the extremely toxic gas, and was taken to a Durango hospital in a very serious condition. The stricken parents at home here, know only such details of the tragic affair as they were able to glean by long distance telephone calls to Durango. The remains were to be brought back to Newhall by a brother, Valentine, following funeral services in the Colorado city, either Wednesday or Thursday of this week. The accident was a strange one. The area in which the ranch is located is a coal bearing section, but it is considered remarkable that the dreaded fire damp, or methane gas should accumulate in a comparatively shallow well, such as the one on which young Perkins was working. The deadly, inflammable gas was touched off either by a spark from the motor of the well pump, or possibly by the lighting of a cigarette by the victim. Exact particulars of the fatality awaited the arrival of the brother.
WIFE TRIED TO RESCUE
It was not know at first whether young Perkins was down in the well or close to the top when the explosion took place. His wife and father-in-law were in the the ranch house at the time. They rushed out and saw no sign of him. Mrs. Perkins apparently realized that he was in the well and climbed down after him. She in tunr had to be rescued by her father. Arthur B. Perkins Jr., was born May 4, 1918, in Los Angeles. He attended Newhall Grammar School, San Fernando High School, A.V. Junior College, California Polytech and Los Angeles City College. Previous to World War II he assited his father in the operation of the the Newhall Water Co., and wa a leading spirit in the formation of a Junior Chamber of Commerce.
HELPED REVIVE REDEO
It was Art Junior's idea to try and revive the Saugus Rodeos. long a nationally know sports spectacle, but discontinued in 1937 after disastrous floods made the stadium unusable. The idea caught on, an incorporated body was organized by Attorney Arthur C. Miller, and a very fine rodeo was put on in the flats of Placerita Canyon in 1939. In 1943 young Arthur served with the U.S. Army. In December of 1945 he was united in marriage with Miss Maxine Prager, the ceremony being performed by Rev. John Christensen in Community Church. Three years ago the young couple acquired a cattle ranch near Durango, and had lived there since.
MADE MANY FRIENDS
Of cheerful. friendly, energetic nature, young Art, as he was familiarly known, made a friend of everyone he knew. He was ever in the forefront of constructive activities and gave freely of his time and efforts to any worthy cause. He was a sort of spark plug in the friendly, busy community life of pre-war Newhall, and his departure created a vacancy noted by all. Left to mourn are his parents, his brother Valentine, who lives in Detroit, and his brother Richard, now at the family home after completing a term of military service in Korea. In addition to the immediate family, every young person in the area of his age, who know him, experienced a deep sense of personal loss. The family request that no flowers be sent. Anyone wishing to do so, may sen da contribution to any organization, hospital, or institution engaged in philanthropic work.
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1918 - 1954 (35 years)