BAUGHER, George W.: 1875-1903

BAUGHER, BUSHELL

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 12/16/2013 at 14:46:51

DEATH OF MR. G.W. BAUGHER
**Handwritten: 1903

Was Thawing Out the Generator When the Tank Threw Him Against the Ceiling.

From our Regular Correspondent.
Stockport, Iowa. Dec 22.-Sunday night about 8 o'clock while working with the lighting plant in the opera house, George W. Baugher was instantly killed and George R. Rowe badly burned by the explosion of the gas generator. Mr. Baugher was the janitor for the opera house.

The generator consists of two large tanks, one just a trifle smaller than the other, and inverted inside of the other. Some chemicals are placed under the inverted tank, and as the gas generates the pressure raises the inner tank. Water is used in making of the gas and the recent cold snap froze the water causing the inner tank to become rigid.

Mr. Baugher had spent most of the day, Sunday, endeavoring to get the thing thawed out, it being a difficult task, as fire is forbidden.

Mr. Rowe objected to a light, but Mr. Baugher assured him that there was no carbon in the machines and therefore it was perfectly harmless. Shortly after they reached the room Mr. Baugher got up over the inner of the men, the gas escaped and a lamp sitting on a projection ignited the gas and the awful deed was done.

Mr. Baugher, from the position in which he was standing, was struck on the breast by the inner tank as it went up with awful force, then under the jaw, breaking every bone in his face and smashing his skull, supposedly against the ceiling of the room.

Mr. Rowe was standing about two feet from the generator and was badly burned about the face, his eye brows, mustache and hair below his cap being burned off.

As soon as possible, Mr. Rowe, groping his way down a narrow staris and to the door, called Drs. Morris, Graber and Hiatt and Mr. Josh Berry and returned to find Mr. Baugher, not laying as a man would be expected, but in a shapeless mass.

Mr. Baugher was born at Anson, Mo., July 8, 1875, where he lived until a short time before he came here and where his father and mother, three brothers and one sister now live.

Jun 13, 1897, he was married to Miss Sadie Bushell of Bonaparte, to which union was born their only child, Earl George, Nov. 25, 1900.

Mr. and Mrs. Baugher came to Stockport two yeas ago last October 23, from Bonaparte and engaged in the harness business, at which he was em-(remainder missing)
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The funeral was held yesterday at ? o'clock, being in charge of the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias, the sermon being delivered by Rev. E.L. Tennant. The interment was at Anson, Mo.

Mrs. Baugher has the sincere sympathy of all who knew her in this terrible bereavement.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book C, Page 376, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA