Ziemen, Nicholas (d. 1910)

ZIEMEN, ZEIMEN

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 9/17/2015 at 15:27:14

LeMars Sentinel, May 6, 1910

FIREMAN IS FATALLY SCALDED
NIC ZIEMEN A VICTIM OF SHOCKING ACCIDENT
CAUSED BY A BUCKLING OF A FLUE.
Escaping Steam and Flames Envelop Him and His Body is Charred and Roasted From Head to Foot Causing Death in a Few Minutes.

An appalling accident occurred at the Plymouth Roller Mills a few minutes after one o’clock on Wednesday afternoon in which Nicholas Ziemen, a fireman, lost his life, being scalded to death. The fatality occurred in the boiler room just after Ziemen had returned to work after dinner. The accident was caused by the bursting of a flue, which caused another flue to buckle up, letting a flood of water on to the hot coals in the fire box. Ziemen was engaged in stoking the fire and the bursting of the flue blew the door open and he was wrapped in a sheet of blinding steam and hot water. There was no eyewitness to his fate, but it is supposed he was stooping down raking out the ashes when the explosion took place. The doors of the fire box were blown open by the force of the escaping steam, one of them striking Otto Remer, the day engineer, just as he looked in through the door of the engine room to inspect the water gauge. He fell stunned from the blow, just outside where he lay for a few minutes and then recovering himself called for assistance. The bursting of the flue had caused the machinery to slow up and J. B. Beattie, foreman of the elevator, and J. S. Pierce, foreman of the mill, and other men came running up to see what was the matter. Agonizing cries were heard from the pit in the boiler room and Beattie and Chas. Symonds made their way down the steps, where they found Ziemen on all fours, writhing in agony and begging for some one to kill him. They picked him up and the unfortunate man in the midst of his horrible pain asked that his wife be told. Dr. Mosher was summoned and took the sufferer to the hospital in his automobile, where he was placed in a ward. Dr. Mosher was assisted by Dr. Fitzgerald and Dr. Clarke, but their efforts were confined to assuaging the man’s awful suffering, as there was no hope for him. His wife was sent for and was with him at the end, and Father Feuerstein was summoned. Ziemen died a few minutes after being taken to the hospital. The flesh on his body from head to foot was literally cooked and charred and the flesh dropped off his fingers as he was being lifted into the car to be taken to the hospital. His eyes were protruding from his head and he saw nothing after the death dealing blast of steam first struck him and had no chance of escape.

The grief of his young wife was pitiful to see. She is only 24 years of age and is left with no means and a baby about ten months old. Ziemen was about 24 years of age and went to work for the milling company on March 7. He was a good workman, contented with his position and a favorite among his fellow workmen. He was a native of Luxembourg and came to this country about three years ago and worked as hostler at the Dubuque House. From here he went to Adrian, Minn., and worked on a farm in that locality. He was married there. His wife can talk but little English. She has a sister living at Coney Island and a brother named Nichells, working near Danbury. Fred Burns, head of the Plymouth Milling Co., telephoned the postmaster at Danbury, who succeeded in locating Michells and he will come to attend the funeral, which will be held today. Ziemen and wife came from the village of Kamdorf, Luxembourg, she followed him to be married. His parents and her father live at Kamdorf. The body was taken to the Beely undertaking rooms and yesterday to the little cottage home on East Fifth street. The funeral will be held this morning at St. Josephs Church. The tragedy has cast a gloom over the mill, both employees and employers, and the mill was shut down yesterday and today pending repairs on the boiler. This is the only fatality that has ever occurred at the mill among the hands since it was established thirty-four years ago. Mr. Burns is doing all in his power to assist the poor young widow and attending to the funeral arrangements.
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Alton Democrat of May 7, 1910

Nicholas Ziemann aged twenty-one a fireman at Plymouth Roller mills in Le Mars was killed Wednesday afternoon by the explosion of a boiler flue. He lived but a few moments after being taken to the hospital.

He leaves a wife and child.
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[Note the two different spellings of the surname in these newspaper articles.]
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[Research Notes: Nicholas Zeimen is buried in LeMars, Calvary Cemetery, Section B.
Per 1910 Federal Census, LeMars, Plymouth County, IA,
Wife's name listed as Mary M. and the young son 9mo old in April 1910 is listed as Alfred H.]
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LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
Tuesday, June 21, 1910

MADE A SETTLEMENT
Widow of Scalded Fireman Gets Home and Cash.

Mrs. Ziemen, widow of Nic Ziemen, a fireman who was scalded while at work at the Plymouth Roller Mill plant a few weeks ago, has received $2500 and a home from the Plymouth Milling company. The home and lots are situated on East Fifth street. Mrs. Ziemen was left penniless with a little child, when the fatal accident happened to her husband, who was a young man dependent on daily earnings. The settlement was ratified in the court last week by Judge Gaynor. Mrs. Ziemen, being administrator for the estate of her late husband, and all business transactions of an administrator must be sanctioned by the court.
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LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
Friday, October 28, 1910

Real Estate Transfers.
Marie Ziemen to Otto Schmidt, Lots 8, 9,10 & 11, Blk 17, LeMars, $400.00.
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