Smith, George W. – Died 1898

SMITH

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/23/2021 at 19:34:22

Source: Decorah Republican Dec. 15, 1898 P 3 C 3

Mistook Gasoline for Coal Oil.
Webster City, Iowa. Dec. 12.—A horrible accident occured this morning at 5:30, at the residence of George W. Smith in the southeastern part of the city. He arose and finding the fire in the stove not burning to suit him picked up a can of oil to put life into it. Mistaking the gasoline can for a coal oil can had poured gasoline on the fire, and in a second a crash like the firing of cannon occurred, and the explosion of the can had filled the room with the terrible liquid explosive which was afire. Smith who had the can in his hand, was thrown to the floor. His ears were burned off, his eyes ruined, his hair on his head was gone, and his face burned until it looked like raw beef steak. His best friends cannot recognize him. Physicians say he will die before night. Smith conducted a general merchandise store covering more floor space than any establishment of the kind in the city, and was a lover of fine horses, recently having sold a horse he owned for $1,000.