Iowa Old Press
Alton Democrat
April 17, 1897
A LE MARS LADY BURNED TO DEATH.
From the Remsen Bell.
Miss Theresa Eckstein, for many years a Gateway seamstress, was the
unfortunate victim of a fire accident from which she received such injuries
that caused her death. Miss Eckstein had for many years occupied rooms over
Kaiser & Dier’s boot and shoe store as dressmaking parlors. On last
Saturday evening she was engaged in cleaning a garment with the use of
benzene fluids. She had occasion to go near the stove and in her errand, the
fluid ignited and all in the space of a moment’s time Miss Eckstein was
enwrapped in flames. She ran down the back stairway and in a loud, piteous
moan attracted a few men to her assistance who soon extinguished the fire.
Several doctors were immediately summoned and all that medical aid could do
was done to relieve the poor woman’s suffering. Her garments from the waist
up were completely burned from her. The scene was a pitiful one. She expired
on Sunday evening. Her remains were taken to Webster City for burial. Miss
Eckstein had a large acquaintance in Remsen who will be grieved to learn of
her unfortunate end.