Kruse, John – Died 1913

KRUSE

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/22/2024 at 16:07:28

Source: Cresco Plain Dealer Dec. 26, 1913, P-LP, C-6

John Kruse, a farmer on the Gabby farm between Baily and Meyer, met with a terrible death recently from an explosion of gasoline in an engine which he was working with.
The unfortunate man was trying to get his engine to run, the water tank having frozen through the night. He soaked a corn cob in kerosene and after lighting it held it under the tank to thaw it out. It is thought that a drop of the flaming oil dropped into a small hole connected with the gasoline tank and a sudden explosion followed. The man was at once covered with flames; he threw himself in some long grass and rolled around, trying to extinguish the flames, then tore most of his clothes off, his wife coming to his assistance, but the burning cloths still clung to his body. In doing this pieces of his flesh were torn off with the clothes and his body was left in terrible condition. After a bitter fight, he was compelled to give up and lost consciousness, dying a few hours afterwards. Mrs. Kruse's hands were badly burned also in her efforts to put out the fire that was killing her husband.
Mr. Kruse had moved onto the farm but, two or three weeks previous. He and his family came from near Ft. Atkinson, where his father resides, and had but recently bought the farm.—Le Roy Independent.