Anna Maria Reding Erpelding 1867-1913

ERPELDING, REDING, ZEIMET, THUL

Posted By: Geo Clinton (email)
Date: 7/31/2012 at 11:22:18

Nov 13, 1913 - Graettinger Times - Mrs. Peter Erpelding of St. Joe Dies of Fire Last Saturday Morning. One of the most, distressing accidents that ever occurred in this section of country was that which caused the death of Mrs. Peter Erpelding of St. Joe last Saturday morning. Last Saturday was a holy day with Catholic people and services were held in their churches on Sunday. The Erpelding family lives a mile south of the St. Joe church in Humboldt county, and this good woman attended first mass, between 8 and 9 o'clock, and remained at home at the time for second mass that the rest of the family might attend. She was not entirely alone, her youngest child, a boy of four years, being with her.

It was probably about 11 o'clock that two neighbor men, Henry Zeimet and George Thul were driving by on their way to St. Joe and they noticed smoke issuing through the open door. They rushed in to see what was the matter, and there on the floor lay Mrs. Erpelding, covered with a coat and some other extra articles of clothing. They tried to arouse her but she was dead.

The little boy was out of doors and uninjured. Mrs. Erpelding's clothing was mostly burned off and the floor where she lay was scorched. From the appearance of things it was evident that she had been polishing the hot stove and that the polish contained gasolene or some other inflammable element, and that it exploded and set her clothing on fire. The box which contained the polish was found in the dooryard. She evidently had thrown it out.

The little boy told the story as best he could, saying his mother wrapped the coat about her and rolled on the floor in an effort to put out the fire, and told him to throw something over her, which he did. The ceiling above the stove showed signs of the fire. Death having resulted so quickly it is thought that it may have been caused by her inhaling the burning gas, or that her heart might have been shocked to stillness by fright.

The good woman was about 47 years of age and leaves besides her husband, five children ranging in age from four to sixteen years. The funeral took place from the St. Joe church Tuesday. The sadness of the event cast a gloom on the whole community.