Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1886-02-24
SEVEN PERSONS CREmATED.
An Entire Family Perish IN Their
Burning Dwelling, Near Ply
mouth, Wis.
Plymouth wis, special.l


Before the citizens Of Greenbush had
awakened to realization OF the calamity
this morning the remnant Of the old Ehle
hostelry lay in smoldering fire. The house
had burned like paper box, and beneath
the thin sheet Of ashes and charred timben
in the basement were the remains Of seven
people. This fact soon circulated through
the neighborhood, attracting people to the
scene from miles around. There was mo-
body to account for the tragedy or explain
It's origin except the hired man. who was
the only @enaheg ~ ~ hQpsshpld a -.
cape. He Wa rSS1f6sd 81 ihS S6ln} iallkl1y
a. vicious character, and when be related
that he knew nothing about the holocaust,
more than that he was awakened BY the
smoke and contriyed TO make his war into
the yard from his room in the second story,
crime was suspected, and he was placed
under surveillance a. the probable perpe-
traitor.
The smoking ruins were hurriedly
searched by the crowd, and about noon
what were supposed to be the remains OF
all the victims had been recovered. The
dead were: Abraham Ehle, aged 80; James
Ehle, aged A.; Ellen Ehle, aged 40; Mrs.
Kinney, guest; three children Of James
and Ellen Ehle.
The remains were almost impossible Of
identification, being mere cinders Of bodies
and calcined bones. What are supposed to
bo the remains Of Mrs. Ehle and her chill
dren were found in an intricate mass, az II
they had died huddled together. Those of
MIR. Elhc, the younger, were discovered in
. position indicating that he had fallen In
another room. Fragments OF Mrs. Kinney
and the elder Ehle were found AZ they
would have naturally fallen In their beds.
There il wide diversity Of theory and
belief as to whether the fire concealed
crime. Many are inclined to regard tho
finding Of tho bodies as related sufficient
evidence that the fire was accidental and 10
swift that the inmates were unable to escape
from it. II is thought that Mrs. Kinney and
old man Ehle we're suffocated, but that they
might have been assassinated in bed nobody
attempts to deny. Mr.. Ehle, too, might
have made his way to an adjoining room in
the endeavor 10 escape, leaving his wife and
children to perish, but it is more likely thst
they would have clung to him closely in
stead Of grouping together inactively in the
smoke. The relative positions Of the re-
mains are made to justify the suspicion Of
foul play by those who are demanding an
inquiry. 1t 10 possible that the seven peo-
pie were killed, the premises soaked with
kerosene, and then set FIRE. That the house
should have burned as quick as It did with
out the application of some innammable
liquid would be as mysterious AZ is at pres-
ent the death Of its occupants. Two mo-
tives for crime are advanced. Ehle is sup-
posed to have kept considerable money in
the house, and the hired man IL said TO have
for some time entertained deep feeling Of
hatred against him, because OF some abuse,
real or fancied.
The Ehles were pioneers Of the county and
were highly respected. Mrs. Ehle was the
daughter Of j. w. Taylor, Of Sheboygan.
The two eldest children had only returned
home from boarding school Saturday.