Erickson, Helena, Mrs. Ole, died 1903

ERICKSON, TRAGESSER

Posted By: Lydia Lucas-Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/7/2011 at 07:58:47

FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT
Mrs. Ole Erickson Burned to Death Sunday Evening

One of the saddest events that ever occurred in Hawarden was the burning to death of Mrs. Ole Erickson at her home in this city last Sunday evening [Oct. 4]. The accident occurred shortly before seven o'clock when she was preparing supper for the family. It was the birthday of one of her little daughters who was four years of age, and she was making extra preparations for the occasion. All of the family were gathered about her except her husband and oldest son who were absent from home at the time. The fire had gotten low and in order to hurry it along she took the kerosene can and poured some of the fluid upon the smoldering coals. The forming gas ignited with an explosion which reached to the can and that was also exploded, throwing the oil over her clothing and about the room. An examination of the can shows that the bottom was partially blown out and a heavily charred place at the top of a door shows that it was blown out of her hands and clear across the room.

The cries of the children brought the neighbors immediately to the scene. Lean Dunham was the first person to enter the house and he succeeded in rescuing the six months old babe from a blazing cradle. He was closely followed by A. M. McDaniel who rushed through the flames and took another tot from a high chair. The others succeeded in getting out unharmed, with the exception of Henry, the ten-year-old son, who had attempted to save his mother by getting some quilts and trying to smother the flames. He was seriously burned about the hands and face, but it is thought that his eyesight will be saved.

After the explosion it seems that Mrs. Erickson ran from the kitchen into the front room and her dead body was found lying against the front door with every particle of clothing burned off. Life was undoubtedly extinct before outside assistance reached the house as no one heard her agonizing struggles from her sad fate. The little babe and the ten year old boy were the only children seriously burned.

What makes the calamity seem doubly sad is that seven children, the eldest only eleven, are left motherless. The neighbors have kindly consented to care for them until such time as the grief-stricken husband can arrange for them.

The funeral was held Tuesday morning at the Presbyterian church, Rev. Wm. Wallace conducting the services. The deceased was a daughter of Jacob Tragesser, a prominent German farmer of Washington township.

Source: Hawarden Independent, Oct. 8, 1903.

Her husband's obituary (Hawarden Independent, Aug. 15, 1946) gives her name as Helena Tragesser.