Mrs. Gast

GAST

Posted By: Beverly Gerdts (email)
Date: 9/25/2021 at 11:48:24

Columbus Gazette, Columbus Junction, Iowa
Thursday, January 16, 1902
Page 1

The correspondent from Grandview gives a short account of the burning to a crisp of the aged Mrs. Gast. It is conjuncture as to how the fire and the tragedy with it came about. Probably her efforts to start a fire in the kitchen stove started a flame that suffocated her and rendered her powerless to escape of call for assistance. She was the mother of Herman Gast a well know citizen, who lived near, but not with her.

Page 8

Monday, about three o'clock, after a visit at her son Harmon's, Grandmother Gast returned to her home to prepare supper. In a few minutes Miss Ora noticed that the house was on fire. The alarm was given but too late to check the flames or to rescue Grandmother. After the fire had cooled down sufficiently to work, the men carried water and charred the coals around where the cook stove had stood. The remains were found but no one would have recognized the charred mass as the good old lady whom we all loved so well.