PHELPS, Howard - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Danville, Ill.—A fourth youth died today from burns received early yesterday when a backyard clubhouse at nearby Tilton was destroyed by a series of explosions and fire.

  Paul Phelps, 17, of nearby Tilton, was the fourth fatality. The others charred beyond recognition, were Paul’s brother, Howard, 16, Harry Culp, 18, and John L. Hinner, 17, all residents of Tilton, a small village two miles southwest of Danville.

  John D. Cole, Vermilion County Coroner, said the cause of the blasts was not determined but that remains of a small gasoline can were found in the charred clubhouse, which had been used as a rabbit hutch before it became a neighborhood rendezvous.

  Paul Phelps was a graduate in June of Danville High School. The others were undergraduates at the school.