Sarah "Sadie" French Coon 1870-1894

COON, FRENCH

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 9/23/2010 at 00:00:48

Mrs. Walter Coon was frightfully burned Tuesday afternoon by the explosion of a 3-gallon kerosene oil can, while in the act of turning oil out of the can on to some wood in a cook stove. The can was about one-third full of oil. There were smoldering coals in the stove and evidently flashed into a blaze as the oil struck them and ignited the oil in the can which burst, throwing the burning fluid over Mrs. Coon, burning her face, hands and arms, as well as her body from the waist up, very seriously. Her sister, who was in an adjoining room, with rare presence of mind grabbed a blanket from a bed near by and wrapped it about the body of Mrs. Coon and smothered the flames. Dr. Salisbury was called and is doing all in the power of medical skill to relieve the lady’s suffering. She will recover but the Dr. thinks her body and arms will be badly disfigured. (Emmet County Republican, Estherville, IA, June 28, 1894)

The death of Mrs. Walter Coon occurred last Saturday [June 30, 1894] evening. The funeral took place on Sunday at the Methodist church and was largely attended. Mrs. Coon died from the effects of the terrible accident that we chronicled last week. A young husband is left to mourn her death and he has the sympathy of the whole community. (Northern Vindicator, Estherville, IA, July 5, 1894)

The distressing case of burning sustained by Mrs. Walter Coon reported in our last issue, resulted fatally, the sufferer passing away at 8:10 Saturday night. The burns proved more serious than first thought to be, some of the fire having undoubtedly been inhaled. The funeral took place from the Methodist church Sunday. The sympathy for the young husband and the sister of the deceased was profound and sincere and was heard expressed on every hand. Mrs. Walter Coon was formerly Miss Sadie French and came to Estheville from Decorah about two years ago. One year ago she was joined in marriage to Walter Coon. She was thirty [24] years of age at the time of her death. (Emmet County Republican, Estherville, IA, July 5, 1894)