MILLER, Maria died 1877

MILLER, MULLER

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 1/14/2013 at 01:20:52

Postville Review, Fri., 13 March 1903, from the files of the Review of March 17, 1877.

FATAL KEROSENE EXPLOSION- On Saturday evening last Maria Miller, A girl employed in the Hufschmidt House, was fatally burned by the explosion of a kerosene lamp. She was taking it down from a bracket, when it slipped from her hands and exploded in falling. The oil saturated her clothing and she was instantly enveloped by the flames. She died at 10 o'clock Sunday morning.

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Added by S. Ferrall 4/20/2024:

A most horrible and fatal accident occurred at the Hufschmidt House, in this city, last Saturday evening about nine o'clock, resulting in the death of Miss Maria Miller the daughter of the widow Miller, an old resident of this city.

Miss Miller was employed in the hotel and was engaged in some culinary work in the kitchen when the accident occurred. She had been using a lamp and in replacing it upon the shelf where it usually set, the lamp slipped from her hands, fell on the table near which she was standing and broke, scattering the burning oil over her and in every direction, setting her clothes on fire and igniting the woodwork which it touched.

Her frightful screams alarmed those in the hotel and a rush was made to ascertain the cause of it. She started, with her clothing all ablaze, to run into the bedroom occupied by the hired girls, but fortunately Mr. Robert Hutschmidt reached her in time to prevent this, and taking her as best he could he crowded her into a close corner where there was no draft, and blankets were quickly passed to him when in a short time the flames were smothered.

As quick as possible she was taken up, placed on a bed, medical attendance called, and all efforts made that could be to save her life. In the meantime other assistance was putting out the fire in the kitchen, little thinking that the poor unfortunate girl had been so terribly burned. Her hands, arms, breast and face were frightful to look upon. One eye, it is said, was burned wholly out. She was indeed a most pitiable being.

She lingered along in terrible agony through the night, conscious nearly all the time, until about ten o'clock Sunday morning, when death came to her relief. She was buried on Monday afternoon and her funeral was largely attended, Her age was about eighteen years. She had lived in Lansing all her life and was well known by all who knew her.
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Card of Thanks
To those friends and neighbors who have shown me so much kindness and sympathy in my recent sudden and sorrowful affliction, I return my most sincere and heartfelt thanks.
Mrs. Catherine Miller
~North Iowa Journal, Wednesday, March 14, 1877; pg 3

Note: 'Woodmansee' records indicate surname spelled MULLER, with burial in Oak Hill cemetery. Obit and census records = MILLER. Parents: George (d. 1873) & Catherine.