The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-04-05
Death ny a prairie FIRE.


1t was with = shock of surprise, min
gled with extreme sorrow, that the news
that Mrs, Franz Weinberg was burned
to death was received on Friday of last
week. The first intimation of her tragic
death was brought in by Mr.. Weinberg,
who came to summer Coroner HOLM
ger.
Mr.. and Mrs. Weinberg had long been
residents of kimball, and were "holdin
Town their Claim. IA miles south of
town, for n second final proof. An ex-
tensivs praire IRE ragged in the vicinity
OF their claim on the afternoon and eve
ming previous, and il was while fighting
this fro that Mrs. Weinberg met her
.death--just how will. perhaps, never be
known. The particulars az near as con
be learned, are as follows:
On the day mentioned. Mr.. Weinberg
started to tswn but rstraoed his way up.
on seeing a prairie fire in the direction of
his place. As the fire approached his
claim a Bohsmeien neighbor and his
three girls went over, along toward night.
TO help no and Mrs. Weinberg fight the
fire. He had q good fire break, but the
wind WAS strong and 1t was of little use.
The Bohemian says. that while they
were oil busy lighting the fire one of the
girls dresses caught fire AID in the sx-
citcmsnt which followed, Mr.. ana Mrs.
Wninhnru 1isoaSnar1J Jath,.,-It.La.,
went to the house, but upon going there
shortly after and not finding them he
concluded they had gone to a neigh bors,
aad soon after he aud his girls went to
their avn home, where they fought fire
until two o'clock in the morning. and
then retired for the night. The first in
timation that he had that anything had
happened to Mrs. Weinberg was when he
was awakened in the morning by Mr..
Weinberg and others looking for her.
Mrs. Weinberg was found soon after ly-
Ing on the prairie, face downward, a few
feet from the house, with her clothing
entirely burned off, her shcas and stock
ings and a remnant of the hood she wore
alone remaining. Her body was badly
burned.
MIR. Weinberg says that while in the
house he became fearful that 1t would
catch fra and they would all be burned,
and taking his little girl in his arms
then undressed in bed-and bidding his
wife follow him, ho started for a neigh
bor's, a mile and a half away-suppasing
NIL the tins that his wife was following
him although she was reluctant to
leave the house. After reaching his
destination in a nearly exhausted condi-
ton and depositiug his little girl in
safety, he retraced his stops to look for
his wife, but as it was then dark did not
find her until the next morning about s
o'clock, and then lying dead on the
prairie as before related. He at onca
started to Kimball to summon a cor
oner.
Mr.. Weinberg is a very cxcitahle man
at times and it is extremely probable
that it would be impossible for him TO
give a correct account Of all that hap
pcned during tae terrible ordeal of that
night. The most reasonable theory Is
that Mrs, Weinberg met her death while
fighting the fire. It Is probable that her
dress caught fire and that she either be-
came, through fright induced by tbs Sc
we're nervous strain, incapable of helping
herself, or quickly became inseusibls by
inhaling the heat and smoke and dropped
down In the flames. Her position when
found showed that she died without a
struggle:
Tho house did not catch Ere, bnt, the
barn was consumed saand with IL a horse,
calves and soma chickens.
The remsins of Mrs. Weinberg were
brought to Kimbsll and were tenderly
cared for By kind friends. The funeral
took place at the Presbyterian church
Sunday morning. Rev. Mr.. Loughran, of
White Lake officiating. and was veyy
largely attended. The utmost sympathy
for her stricken husband and little daugh-
ter, o motherless, is felt on all sides.