The Windrixville Post

SpreadingtheNorthEastWestandSouthofOklahomasince1959
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Sunday,August21,1967

UnlikelyCriminals
AreHeroes
TheFire
ByStephanieVelasquez

TULSA,Oklahoma

On August, 21,1967, two teenage boys, Johnny

Cade, 16 and Ponyboy Curtis, 14, rescued 5
schoolchildren from a burning old church in
Windrixville, Oklahoma. The two boys saved
every precious child, and are known as miracle
angels. "We just wanted to save the kids" said
Curtis. Cade and Curtis performed a miracle
which if they had not been at the scene, the
childrenwouldnotbealivetoday.






Church Fire









1960s Fashion

Coca Cola
Before the rescue, partners in crime Curtis and
Cade were known as juvenile delinquents from
a recent murder incident. The two were on their
way to the police station with their older friend,
Dallas Winston, 17. But on their way, they
passed a scorching fire engulfing a church with
flames on top of Jay Mountain. They stopped by
at the raging fire and heard faint screaming of
distressed children inside the burning building.
With limited time until the raging fire destroys the
church and the innocent schoolchildren, Cade
and Curtis sprang into action. They hurled a
large rock into a window, and daringly jumped
into the blazing inferno inside the chapel. Even
though in the sea of flames, the Curtis and Cade
went through the fire and swiftly and cautiously
picked up each child and lifted them out the
window. Their courage and heroism is greatly
appreciated by the parents, school teachers,
andthechildreninthefire.

A seven year old child from the fire, Mary Miller,

said, "I am happy that the people saved us.
JohnnyandPonyboyaremyheroes."

But even after the rescue, things were not

bright for the heroes. Curtis's back was on fire,
but his jacket that he wore saved his life. He
suffered from minor burns and bruises, but
overall Curtis is alright. But Cade on the other
hand, was not so lucky. When the church was
caving in, a large piece of wood had fallen on
Cade, in which he suffered a broken back,
severe shock, and third degree burns. He is in
critical condition, and is currently in Hillcrest
Hospital. "We wish Johnny and Ponyboy well."
SaidJerryWood,ateacherinWindrixville.
Cade and Curtis have been given much
praise for being the "Angels sent from heaven"
said Mrs. O'Briant, a schoolteacher that
witnessed the incident. Especially the children,
who made a scrapbook of pictures of
themselvesforCurtisandCade.
But before the fire rescue, Cade and Curtis
were regular boys that played football, went to
school, hanged out with friends, and they
belonged to a clique called the greasers.
Greasers are lower than the Socs and the
middle class. Commented Curtis. Socs are also
a clique that are considered the wealthy class.
But the Socs and the greasers to Curtiss and
Cade's knowledge dont get along. Cade and
Curtis were accused of murder when in the
early morning, a group of Socs assaulted
Curtis, which lead Cade to kill a Soc in an act of
self defense. Cade and Curtis ran away to the
church to hide from arrest and then when they
were going to the police station with Winston,
the church then caught fire. The cause of the
fire is unknown, but the fire was suspected to
be started by a lighted cigarette. When Curtis
and Cade saved the children, the parents and
teachers could not express their gratitude
enough.
"If anyone was in my shoes, they would have
done the same thing" Said Cade, "I'm just glad
thatthechildrenaresafe".

1960FordforSale
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