Albright, John Jacob died 1914

ALBRIGHT, RUEDY

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/5/2012 at 21:12:14

PERISHES IN FLAMES

JOHN ALBRIGHT, A FARMER, VICTIM OF FRIGHTFUL FATE

PINIONED BENEATH HORSES

Inmates of Farm House Were Aroused by Barking of Dogs and Awake to Find Barn in Flames and Head of House Missing.

A shocking tragedy occurred at the Henry Backeberg farm in Washington township, ten miles southwest of this city, at an early hour on Saturday morning, when John Albright, tenant on the place, was burned to death.

The origin of the fire and t he exact manner in which Albright lost his life will never be known. About two o'clock in the morning inmates of the house were aroused by the violent barking of dogs and found the barn on the premises in flames. John Albright was nowhere visible and later when the fire was burned out his charred body was found pinioned underneath the carcasses of two horses which had also been roasted to death.

About one o'clock in the morning Mr. Albright, who had been feeling out of sorts with a cold, got up and took a dose of medicine. He was sleeping with his brother-in-law, Henry Ruedy. Mr. Ruedy was awakened by the movements of his fellow sleeper but soon turned over and went to sleep again. About an hour later Mr. Ruedy was again awakened by the barking of some dogs in proximity to the window of the room in which he was sleeping. He looked out of the window to see if anything was amiss and saw the barn enveloped in flames. He quickly raised an alarm and awoke others in the house. Ruedy rushed to the barn, noticed the doors were open and called loudly for Albright but the interior was a hot. seething mass of flames and it was impossible for any one to make an entrance. Water was poured on the fire by neighbors who had seen the fire and come to render assistance. When the fire was burned out sufficiently to make a search in the ruins the inanimate form of John Albright was found beneath two horses, which team it is said he most highly prized among the animals he owned. The body was horribly burned. His lower limbs were burned off up to the knees and both arms up to the elbows, leaving the charred stumps. From indications he went to the barn attired only in his underclothing.

One theory is that Albright went to the barn to attend to a mare which was sick and while in there struck some matches and accidentally set the hay or bedding on fire and that when the flames burst forth the horses became frightened and trampled upon him. This seems a more tenable theory than another one advanced which holds that when he arose at one to take medicine he saw the barn on fire and rushed out to save his horses, as in the latter case he would have called the other people in the house to assist.

Coroner Wiltgen, of this city, was called out to the place at four o'clock in the morning to make an investigation. The coroner concluded from what he could learn that no inquest was necessary as the circumstances all pointed to an accident. With the unfortunate man six head of horses perished in the flames. A colt got out of the burning structure but is so badly injured that it may die. A quantity of hay, straw, harness and other effects were also destroyed.

John Jacob Albright was twenty-nine years of age and was born and lived all his life in Plymouth county. He was born in Liberty township twenty nine years ago. On February 4, 1909 he was united in marriage with Miss Anna Ruedy and she with-three little children are left to mourn his tragic fate. Others who mourn his death are his mother, Mrs. Hiram Greenwood, four brothers and five sisters and many friends.

The funeral services were conducted on Sunday afternoon at the Methodist church in Merrill and were attended by a large concourse of people. The interment was made in the cemetery at Merrill.

Le Mars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
Tuesday, April 28, 1914
Le Mars, Iowa