Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 February 1909 — VICTIMS OF AN AWFUL ACCIDENT [ARTICLE]

VICTIMS OF AN AWFUL ACCIDENT

IWheatfield Review. At 7:30 last Thursday evening an awful accident occurred at the home Of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Yeagley, of .Frankfort, Ind. As a result of the hums received in a coal oil explosion, Mrs. Yeagley died at 5:45 a. m. and Mr. Yeagley died at 7:50 a SB. Friday, and little Harold, the 2year old son died at midnight, and Charles, 5 years old, is also probably f&taliy burned. The dreadful accident was caused by Mr, Yeagley attempting to start ~a fire with coal oil, He had filled up the heating stove with corn cobs and as he thought there was no fire In the stove he got the coal oil can and started to pour some oil into the stove. There was a report and a terrific explosion and the air -*of the entire room was filled with the burning fluid and fumes of oil. All of the family, excepting the 8year old son, were near the stove, hut he was standing in a doorway and Sustained but slight injuries. The neighbors were attracted to tha scene by the screams of the members of the family and John Dukes, who lives in the adjoining yard, and who was the first on the scene, rushed up to the house through the blinding smoke and fire and jguided by the sounds of the children’s screams, found them In the room where the accident took place and on his way carrying one of the little ones to safety, stumbled over the prostrate form of the mother in the front room and, realizing somewhat the terrible extent of the accident, on reaching the outer air he at once sent other neighbors who had begun to arrive, into the house to extinguish the blaze that had started and rescue the other members of the family, which they succeeded in doing, but not until the terrible injuries had been inflicted. Mr. and Mrs. Yeagley were the more severely burned, Mrs. Yeagley being nearly burned to a crisp all over her body while Mr. Yeagley was also one solid mass of burns and the sight and wails of the injured were truly pitiful and heartrending, especially those of the grief-crazed father and husband who, with his flesh in shreds broke loose from his rescuers and ran around the yard ecreaming in his anguish that he had murdered his family. The clothing was almost entirely burned from the body of both the father and mother. After the four seriously injured had been brought to the hospital, Dr. Palmer, who had made two trips to the stricken home, made a further examination and said there was absolutely no hope for the recovery Of Mr. and Mrs. Yeagley. The injuries of Mrs. Yeagley consisted of practically her entire body being charred, including her face, neck, hands, arms, body, thighs and legs. Her scalp was also burped. She inhaled the flames. This Dr. Palmer said made her death certain. Mr. Yeagley’s injuries consisted of Charred neck, hands, arms, chest, hips, thighs, legs and feet and face. His feet were terribly burned; his eyes were protected by his glasses, and he inhaled the flames. The second boy, Charles, who is also probably fatally injured, was burned on the hands, arms and neck badly. He also inhaled the flames. The little Bon Harold had both hands, 1 wrists, face, abdomen and back badly burned, and also inhaled flames. Mrß. Yeagley is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Grover Smith, of Wheatfield; and Mr. Yeagley Is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Janies K. P. Yeagley, Of DeMotte, who have the sympathy of the entire community in this their hour of bereavement. The terrible affair has proven a great Bhock to the people of northern Jasper county, where the victims were so well known and highly esteemed. .Mr. and Mrs. Grover Smith, on receipt of a telegram, left for Frankfort Friday, accompanied by Ward Yeagley, of DeMotte, and Undertaker A. S. Keen, who returned here Saturday evening with the three caskets containing the bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Chsa. Yeagley and son. Harold, which were taken to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, followed by a large concourse of friends, who had assembled at the depot in waiting. It was a sad sight to view three caskets of the same family passing through the streets.

. Mr. and Mrs. Yeagley moved to Frankfort about two years ago, where he was employed as switchman on the Clover Leaf, having just returned from his day’s work and partaken of the evening meal, when the accident occurred. He was a member of the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen and carried $1,350 insurance; he also carried $l5O on, his wife, S4O on the eldest son and $25 on the baby in the Prudential. Frank Smith, brother of Mrs. Yeagley, who Is also employed on the Clover Leaf, was notified and arrived at the home of his sister shortly after the accident and remained with the family until death relieved them from their terrible sufferings. DCTphos Lodge, No. 326, Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen, of which Mr. Yeagley was a member, had Mr. S. G % Dearth accompany the remains of Mr. Yeagley here. Mr. Dearth also remained here as the representative of the Brotherhood at the funeral and burial services. The funeral services were first announced to take place at 2 o’clock Sunday afternoon, but on account of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bunch being unable to reach here until Monday, th© services were delayed until the following day, and many from a distance came to attend the services, unaware of the change. About; 75 friends of the family came by special train from LaCrosse, where Mr. and Mrs. Yeagley had resided fop some years prior to removing to Frankfort, and short services were conducted at the Smith home by Rev. Vandercar.

OBITUARY. Charles ' Yeagley was born at Streator, 111., Jan. 16, 1876, and died at Frankfort, Ind., Feb. 19, 1909, aged 34 years, 1 month and 3 days. He leaves to mourn their loss two sons, Fred aged 8, and Charles • Edward aged 6, his parents Mr. and Mrs. Jaines K. P. Yeagley, three brothers Ward, Arthur and Clyde of DeMqtte, Ind., and one sister, Mrs. Lee Meyers, of Mitchell, So. Dak. Mary A. (Smith) Yeagley, was born at Roselawn, Newton county, Indiana, March Bth, 1880, and died at Frankfort, Indiana, February 19th, 1909. Aged 28 years, 11 months and 11 days. She leaves to mourn their loss, two sons Fred aged 8 and Charles. Edward aged 5, her parents Mrs. Grover of Wheatfield, Ind. one sister Mrs. Robert Bunch of Centralia, 111., three brothers, Frank of Frankfort, Jud., Joseph and Grover Smith Jr., ot Wheatfield. Harold Yeagley was born at Frankfort, Indiana, March 12th, 1907, and died at Frmkfort Indiana, February 19th, 1909. Aged 1 year 11 months and 7 days. He leaves to mourn their loss, two brothers Fred aged 8 and Charles Edward aged 5. Charles Yeagley was united in marriage to Mary A. Smith November 22d, 1899. To their union were born three sons and one daughter, Fred aged 8, who narrowly escaped with his life at the time of the fatal accident, and Charles Edward, aged 5, who is now lying at death’s door in the hospital as a result of injuries, survive their parents. Harold accompanies his parents to their final resting place, and Ruth proceeded her par* ents and brother to the beyond 6 year ago. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Yeagley were well and favorably known in northern Jasper county. Both had led exemplary lives, and had a host of friends who will greatly miss them, and who tender their sincere sympathy to their parents and relatives in this their sad hour of bereavement, in the death of their dear ones who have passed away. The funeral services vere very large-* ly attended and were held Monday at the M. E. church, conducted by Rev. Vandercar, of Knox, assisted by Rev. Hickman, of Rollin Prairie, and Rev. J. P. Payton, of Evanston, 111. The burial services were in charge of Undertaker A. S. Keen. The remains of the father and mother were taken in separate hearses and a conveyance for the remains of the child to their last resting place in the Wheatfield cemetery. The pallbearers for the father were: Alex L. Jensen, Robt. A. Mannan, A 1 Clark, W. B. McNeil and Louis Jensen. For the mother, Herman Langdon, Ilenry Miller, Harry Remley, Louis Paulsen, Henry Gilbranson and Frank Clager. For the child, Wm. Tinkham, George Meyers, Burl Biggs and Roy Blue. The floral offerings of the sympathizing friends were not only numerous but very magnificent,and appropriate. HOW TO CURE SKIN DISEASES. The germs that cause skin diseases must be drawn to the surface of the ■kin and destroyed. ' ZEMO, a clean liquid fbr external use, will do this and will permanenty cure every form of Itching skin disease. For sale everywhere. Write for sample, E. W. Rose Medicine Co., St Louis. Sold by B. 91 Fendlg. ts WANTED —A ton of clover hay. Geo. H. Healey, phone IS or 163.