Iowa Old Press
The Farmington News
Farmington, Van Buren Co. Iowa
Friday July 26, 1907
BURNED TO DEATH BY GASOLINE FLAMES
Terrible Death of Mrs. John Longley Wednesday Morning.
LITERALLY ROASTED ALIVE.
Mrs. Longley Was Preparing to Get Breakfast When the Explosion Occurred.
A Farmington home was the scene of a horrifying accident last Wednesday morning
when Mrs. John Longley was so severly burned by a gasoline explosion that she
died from her injuries a few hours later. It was one of those shocking disasters
which occasionally overtake mankind, and which sicken with horror the friends
who are left to contemplate the awful results. The spontaneous manner in which
the sympathies of the entire community with the bereaved family was manifested
was as a ray of light in the gloom, showing as it did that men today are not the
selfish creatures they are sometimes pictured -- that afflictings such as this
make all men brothers. A few minutes after five o'clock Wednesday morning Mr.
and Mrs. Longley arose as usual, and before dressing the unfortunate woman went
to the gasoline stove, to generate it preparatory to getting breakfast. Just
what happened is not certainly known, though it is supposed that she lighted the
burner to generate the gas. After the burner became hot she noticed the tank was
empty. She turned off the valve and proceeded to fill the tank from an open
pitcher, and it is supposed that she spilled some of oil, which splashed on the
hot burner, and in an instant the entire room was ablaze. Her husband rushed to
her rescue, and finally subdued the flames by wrapping her with bed clothes. Her
suffering were something beyond description. Her entire body was a mass of
cooked flesh. In this condition she walked to the Glicker home across the
street, where she was taken care of. Doctors Paisley and Neff were called and
did everthing possible to alleviate her sufferings, but nothing could be done to
save her life, and she died about 11:15 Wednesday forenoon. Just after the
explosion E. J. Miller was coming through the school house yard. He heard some
one yelling fire, and on stooping down and looking under the trees he could see
flames issuing from a kitchen window. He rushed to the fire bell, in the
northeast corner of the school yard, and gave the alarm. The people were aroused
and the firemen were quickly on the scene. The fire had gained such headway that
it was with difficulty extinguished. It was burning inside, under the roof, and
the thick, black smoke made it difficult to get close enough for effective work.
The house, located on South Second Street, was a brick structure, with frame
addition on the rear, and owned by D.D. Simpson. It was very badly damaged. The
loss is partly covered by insurance. The unfortunate Longley family lost
practically everything they had in the world -- household goods, clothes,
everything. As soon as this fact became known the inate goodness and kindness of
heart of the Farmington people came to the surface. In a short time paper was in
circulation, soliciting needed funds for the stricken family. In a short time
$168.00 had been contributed, beside other needed articles.
CARD OF THANKS.
I desire to hereby express to my neighbors and to the citizens of the city of
Farmington my heartfelt thanks for their kindness and generosity toward myself
and family in our recent sore affliction. Words cannot express our thankfulness.
J. S. LONGLEY.
OBITUARY.
Miss Katherine Rose was born in Quincy, Ill., June 25, 1872. Her mother died
when she was but 3 days old and the first nine years of her life were spent in a
convent. She was then adopted by a family named Collins, and lived with them
until 16 years of age, when she moved to Keokuk. She was married to J. S.
Longley in 1891, at Keokuk, and they came to Farmington in 1892. Beside the
husband she is survived by five sons: George, Henry, Bonner, Eugene and Paul.
The funeral services were held at the Baptist church at two o'clock Thursday
afternoon and were attended by a church full of citizens. Rev. S.E. Wilken
officiated. The choir sang "Come, Ye Disconsolate," "It Is Well
With My Soul" and "Asleep in Jesus." The casket was covered with
beautiful flowers. Interment in Farmington cemetery.
Iowa Old Press
Van Buren County