MARGARET BAKER

BAKER, MCDONOUGH, CHICK, ANDREW

Posted By: Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert (email)
Date: 2/8/2002 at 21:25:21

Decatur County Journal
November l2, l9l4

MISS MARGARET BAKER, about 20 years of age,
daughter of MRS. RALPH
BAKER, and sister of MRS. BRICE MCDONOUGH, of
near Leon, was so badly
burned in an explosion of gasoline at the
home of GEORGE CHICK near
Grand River last Monday evening that her
death occurred on Wednesday
morning between 5 and 6 o'clock.

MISS BAKER was teaching the Center School
about 5 miles south of Grand
River and was boarding at the CHICK home. At
the time of the fatal
accident, she was at the CHICK home with two
small daughters of MR. and
MRS. CHICK and HARLAN ANDREW, a young lad,
who was at work at the barn
at the time of the explosion. The two little
girls were in the house
with MISS BAKER. MISS BAKER was starting a
fire and in doing so through
mistake picked up a can containing gasoline
instead of kerosene and when
she poured some of the contents on the flames
the explosion followed.
The flames were thrown over MISS BAKER and in
an instant her clothing
was a mass of fire. The cries of MISS BAKER
and the little girls
attracted the attention of HARLAN ANDREW who
ran to the house. He
quickly smothered the flames that were
burning the clothing of MISS
BAKER and then extinguished the flames that
had been communicated to the
room. MR. CHICK was away from attending a
public sale and MRS. CHICK
had gone to Grand River to attend the funeral
of MISS HELEN FOLAND, held
that afternoon, and did not arrive home until
a short time after the
accident had occurred. HARLAN had summoned
help and physicians were
called to attend MISS BAKER. Physicians
found that her condition was
critical and worked hard to save her life.
The injuries were greater,
however, than could be overcome and as a
consequence her death resulted,
Wednesday morning between 5 and 6 o'clock.
The grief stricken family
and relatives have the deep sympathy of
everyone in their sad
bereavement.

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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
February 6, 2002