Thoma, Ralph 1903-1910

THOMA

Posted By: Plymouth CC
Date: 2/14/2004 at 13:14:25

Obituary and News Article SUCCUMBS TO INJURIES. Seven Year Old Boy Suffers Fatal Burns.

Was Playing Near Bonfire. Ralph, The youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Thoma meets a terrible fate, burning oil being thrown over him. An appalling accident, bringing in its train of sorrow and grief to the distracted parents and a large family of brothers and sisters occurred at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Thoma, residing on Court Street. On Tuesday evening when their little son Ralph, aged seven years, received burns which terminated his young life after thirty hours suffering. Along in the evening, early after supper, Mr. Thoma was playing with his little son, Mrs. Thoma being in church and the other members of the family gone out. Some neighbor boys were across the street playing around a bonfire, which they had gathered, with the dead leaves and sticks. Little Ralph asked his father if he could go and play a little with the boys among who was one of his brothers, saying at the same time then "I will come back and play with you all evening." The boy having secured permission went out to join his playmates. Mr. Thoma picked up the evening paper and had just settled down to read when screams attracted his attention, and on going out the door he saw his son Ralph at the corner of the house with his clothes all on fire. Mr. Thoma grabbed a blanket in which he enveloped the boy and rolled him on the ground, at the same time beating out the flames with his hands, which were badly burned. Mrs. P. Mich, of Granville, an aunt of the boy, who is visiting here, appeared on the scene, having returned from a visit to a neighbor, and assisted Mr. Thoma in getting the boy to bed, and Dr. Mosher and Dr. Bellaire were summoned and later a trained nurse. The boy was conscious for some time after the accident. He was frightfully burned of the face, breast, both arms and one leg, and little hope of recovery was held, owing to the extent of his injuries and fearful burns he had received, fully two-thirds of his body being burned. The little fellow passed away at midnight on Wednesday, death putting and end to his suffering. The Doctors and his mother did all they could to assuage the pain, and he lapsed into blessed unconsciousness some time before the soul passed from the body. Just how the accident, which ended his life, occurred is hard to determine as the other boys were so badly scared they did not realize what had happened. The boys were playing around the bonfire. Id did not burn quickly and brightly as they thought it ought to do, and one of the boys said he would get some kerosene. Instead he got a can of gasoline and threw it on the bonfire, which just then began to burn again. Another lad realizing the danger of the explosive kicked the can out of the fire. Ralph was standing a little apart from the others and the can struck him, exploding at the same moment, and blazing oil was thrown over him. He turned and ran to the house. The sad tragedy has cast a glom over the neighborhood and Mr. and Mrs. Thoma have the sympathy of the community in the terrible accident, which robbed them of their little son. Ralph was the youngest son and the baby of the large household, the pet of his brothers and sisters, and his terrible fate has wrenched their heartstrings. They will long miss his joyous prattle and the aching void caused by his untimely death can only be assuaged by the soothing touch of the hand of time, and the assurance of consolation from a Higher Power to whom they turn in their heartrendering sorrow. Ralph Vincent was born in Le Mars on July 17, 1903, and died October 26, 1910. Besides the bereaved parents he leaves six brothers and two sisters to mourn his loss.

Submitted by Footballfns@aol.com