Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 72, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 February 1909 — AGED WOMAN BURNED TO DEATH. [ARTICLE]

AGED WOMAN BURNED TO DEATH.

Mrs. Lois Penwright of Near Sharon Dies From Burns Received While Setting Fire to Wild Grass In Her Field. Mrs. Lois Penwright, a widow lady aged about 79 years, residing southeast of town about seven miles, near Sharon, died at 9 o’clock Monday night at the home of Mrs. Gish, nearby, from burns received while out in the field where she had set fire to the dead grass to burn it ov§r. She lived alone, and no one seems to know just when she went out to the field, but it is supposed to have been along about 2 p. m. She had remarked to Mrs. Gish and Mrs. Chilcote, neighbors, some days before that she was going to burn this field over, but they advised her not to do so until she had help. She seems to have disregarded their advise, however, and went out and set it on fire. In some manner her clothing became ignited and every stitch was burned from her except a portion of the woolen underclothing. No one knew anything about it until about 3 p. m., when Rowley Gates, a farmer residing near, saw the fire burning over the field and, having a stack of hay in that vicinity, he drove over to investigate. He saw’ a bundle of something lying on the ground, and going up to it, saw that it was a human being with the clothing all burned off. She was unconscious, and he Wrapped a horse blanket around the body and placed it in his buggy, and drove to Mrs. Gish’s, and Dr. Besser of Remington was summoned, but nothing could be done to save her life, she having inhaled the flames so much and was so badly burned, and at 9 o’clock she passed away. Charlie Penwright of Mt. Ayr, is a son o£ the unfortunate woman,, and was summoned by* phone to her bedside, but did not reach there until she had died. John, Fred and Will Penwrignt of near El Reno, Okla.. are also sons of the deceased, and are expected to arrive here about Thursday, to attend the funeral, which w(ll likely be held Friday. About 60 tons of hay belonging to Gates, Luers Bros., Tonjr. Keiper, and one or two others was destroyed, some 140 acres of ground burning over before the fire was put out by the neighbors.