William H. Crane 1848-1909

CRANE, WARNER, HOFFNER

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 12/15/2016 at 08:47:35

14 May 1909 - The Lowden News

Wm. Crane Creamated Alive
Veteran of Civil War Lost His Life in Fire on West Third St.

Davenport Democrat and Leader, Friday, May 7: William H. Crane, aged 67 years, a veteran of the Civil war, met a terrible fate late Thursday afternoon at the home of Mrs. Emma Hudson, 810 West Third street, where he boarded.

Mrs. Hudson was absent from home and as she did not expect to return until late, left Mr. Crane's supper in the dining room prepared for him to warm over.

With the evident purpose of so doing, Mr. Crane went into the kitchen and lighted the gasoline stove. Just how the accident happened is not known for a certainty. One theory is that the stove exploded and another is that the gasoline leaked and caused a flame which Mr. Crane attempted to extinguish and is so doing his clothing took fire.

It was shortly before 5 o'clock that the Hudson home was discovered to be in flames. The fire department was summoned and arrived quickly on the scene. They found the flames burning fiercely and not until the interior of the house had been totally ruined, did they succeed in putting out the flames. The kitchen in the rear, as also a barn, were totally destroyed and the rear porch of the Hageboeck flats adjoining, was burned.

It was after the fireman had completed their work and neighbors were looking over the ruins, that they ran across the charred remains of Mr. Crane. He had undoubtedly endeavored to escape through the front of the house, but had only reached the sitting room when he was overcome and fell prostrated to the floor. The flames soon reached him here and he was literally cremated alive.

Mrs. Hudson left two children at home but they were both out of the house when the fire started, so that Mr. Crane was the only one in the place at the time.

Ex-Alderman Frank Klauer was the first to discover the body. He at first thought it was a mass of burned rags but noticing that it resembled the form of a human being, turned it over and then the gastly discovery was made. Undertaker Henry Runge, who is located in the same block, was notified and removed the body to his establishment where later it was viewed by Coroner Rudolf.

Mr. Crane had been in Davenport since last December, coming here from St. Paul for medical treatment. Mrs. Hudson is a friend of the family and naturally upon his arrival here, Mr. Crane went to her home to board. On the interior of the victim's clothes was found a heavy leather wallet containing a government pension voucher for $30, issued in Des Moines, and other valuable papers.

The deceased leaves a daughter, Mrs. E. A. Buttery, wife of a well to do real estate agent in St. Paul. These were notified by wire of the sad occurrence. The remains will be shipped to Clarence, Iowa, for interment.

Obituary Record

Wm. H. Crane was born in New York, March 7, 1848, and died in Davenport, May 6, 1909, aged 61 years and 2 months. Mr. Crane was married three times. The first marriage took place in Chicago. This wife lived but two years. He then came to Cedar county and in 1877 married Miss Mary Warner who died in Clarence March 10, 1882. To this union was born one daughter, now Mrs. E. A. Buttery of 1387 Albany street, St. Paul, who with her husband and two children survives. These have the sympathy of the entire community. March 10, 1895, he was married to Mrs. Mary Hoffner, who died in October, 1907. Mr. Crane was a veteran of the Civil war, being a member of the Seventeenth Illinois Cavalry. Following Mr. Crane's awful death his remains were prepared for burial and brought to Clarence Sunday afternoon, being conducted by the pastor, Rev. W. M. Lemen. Following the services the remains were taken to Fairview cemetery and interred. The following G.A.R. comrades acted as pall bearers: C. G. Oliver, J. A. Davis, Geo. Rosman, Wm. Thomson, Samuel Munn, S. W. Spaulding. --Clarence Sun.