The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-07-18
DISTRESSING ACCIDENT.

On Sunday last Mr.. Frank Shirley and
Miss Emma Kempf, of this city, went to
Racine for drive. AS they were about
returning home the dress of the young
lady caught fire from cigar which the
young man was smoking. Under the
excitement the young lady leaped from
the buggy. The horse became frighten-
ed, and before Shirley could check him
and alight from the buggy, the young
lady, who was clad in a thin muslin
dress, was enyeloped in danes. Her
left arm was burned to crisp and she
was also frightfully burned on her chest
and back. She fingered until about ten
o'clock Monday morning, when death
ended her sufferings. She was about
eighteen years OF age Her father was
among the fishermen drowned at this
place about twelve years ago. Miss
Kempf was employed in the family of
Rev. R.)W. BosWorth, and is well spoken
of by those who knew her. 1t is
only justice to say that young Shirley
feels very deeply the accident.
An inquest was held before Coroner
Tarbell on Monday afternoon, when the
following testimony was taken:
Frank K. Shirley, being duly sworn, de.
posed and said that they left home about
81 o'clock A. M, July Is, 1884 met
her on the street near Heads barn,
where she got into the buggy arrived
at Racine about IL O'Clock; drove
around till noon and got dinner after
dinner we took walk down to the lake
told her to walk up and l would get
the horse and buggy after getting the
buggy / lighted my cigar did not no
tice any fire she said she smelt some
thing funny saw smoke coming up at
her back; Istopped the horse when she
jumped from the buggy ]; told young
man to get water her clothes were on
fire; a spot about as big as my hat;
jumped from the buggy and tried to
brush the fire from her, but she ran
across the street, when some women
came and put carpet around her and
got water and put out the fire; they
took her in house and said / better
send for doctor told them / did not
know much about here the young man
offered to go for doctor the doctor
came and treated her the doctor said I
had better take her home as soon as
possible, for if we did not she could not
be got home very soon got hack
and had her taken home l went ahead
and told her mother, and then went
back and met them arrived home
about Al or 5 o'clock P. M. did not
know what time she died, as the doctor
sent me after his case, and when l got
back she was dead it must have been
between nine and ten o'clock this morn.
ing when first saw the fire it was as
large as the crown Of my hat she had
on a thin light dress my cigar hit hel
dress when she got into the buggy she
brushed the ashes off of her dress as she
sat down burnt my pants could not
swear that her clothes were all burned
| off, as | attended to the horse and the
woman took her into the house.
| DIR. w. HI. Saunders sworn: Came fol
him last evening was out of town Went
lup this morning at 9 O'Clock found hel
unconscious and dying in conversation
learned how the fire caught it was from
a cigar her mother stated she was com
Portable through the night; gave her {
cup of tea her mother did not know
| that she was unconscious she was bad
| ly burned on her back and on her arms
lher hands and feet were icy cold all thu
morning think she died from thu
shock 4; she was a frail young lady; d.
| not think she inhaled any of the fire, as
there was no appearance i'll the face o
the fire coming up to the face.
| The jury returned verdict that de
ceased came to her death by reason o
her clothes accidentally taking fire from
a lighted cigar in the hands of Franz
Shirley at the city of Racine, and ez
onerated Shirley from all blame.