Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-08-31
MET A PAINFUL. DEATH.
Miss Annie Bennett Burned by Gaso-
line StOye at Washington, ID. c.,
and Dies from the Effects


Intelligence of the sudden death of
Miss Annie V. Bennett, only surviving
daughter of our former townsman,
Hon. j. b. Bennett, which occurred
Saturday night at her home in Wash
ington, ID. c., was received here Sun
day In telegram to an old friend of
the family. The startling news that
Miss Bennett had met her death from
| burns sustained by the explosion of a
gasoline stove was painful shock to
her numerous acquaintances here, and
expressions of genuine regret over the
| sad occurrence were heard on all sides.
During her residence in Watertown the
deceased was universally esteemed for
her beautiful traits of character and
truly Christian endOwments. Her ter
rible and untimely end must cause an
aching void in the home that knew her
as a devoted, dutiful daughter and be-
loved sister, and to her father and
brothers, as well as to her every &C
quaintance, the loss will be keenly felt.
The particulars of the fatality are thus
told in the Sunday issue of The Wash
ington Post:
Miss Annie v Bennett, daughter of J. 3.
Bennett, appointment clerk OF t 1e Agricultural
department. died at her home, 1877 Eleventh
street northeast, last night, from burns re-
celved at fire which occurred at her home
shortly after noon yesterday.
1he young woman was in the front room Of
the basement of her residence preparing some
candy, while her sister-in-law was in one Of the
upper rooms. gasoline stove in the rear
room was NOTICED by Miss Bennett to be work
rat hnJ hoe I,,lr,
although 1t had been fixed but few days be-
fore, she went back to turn off the fluid. Evil
IDENTIFY she must have turned the knob the
wrong way, for the blaze shot forth, and she
was entirely enveloped in the flames.
With her clothes ablaze, Miss Bennett rushed
into the front room and ont the basement door.
falling exhausted on the parking in front of
| her house, her clothing burning fiercely. At
the start Mrs. Bennett ran to get a blanket or
table-cloth to smother the blaze, but the young
woman was too quick for her, and made her
escape from the house.
j. b. Walling, painter, was passing in a
buggy at the time Miss Bennett ran from the
house, and, taking his blanket, he wrapped it
about the suffering woman smothering the
| flames. Mr.. Hauer, who keeps store on the
opposite corner, also ran over, and the two
carried Miss Bennett into the house Her
screams awoke brother who had been asleep
IN one OF the upper rooms, and he Immediately
sent for physicians. COuriers were sent in all
directions. and DR.. Stricken, of 512 East Capt.
toi street was the first to reach the house.
Nelghbors gave assistance, and when DR..
Strlck!er arrived Miss Bennett was being we'll
cared for, and he administered medicines to
relieve the pain. She was horribly burned
| even her feet being badly blistered, and every
part of her body scorched excepting her face.
She stood her SuHerlngS for over ten hours
with great fOrtitude, and thanked the doctor
shortly before her death for his Kindness stat
ing that death was better than having to pass
through such torture. She was perfectly
| scloqs during the whole of the time, and recog-
| nlzed everybody until shortly before her de-
mise.
Heart failure resulting from the shock was
the immediate cause of her death, as she had
| been subject to trouble of this kind for some
time. DR.. Strickler stated that she had in
haIed none of the flame, as she breathed with
ease and had no trouble in partaking of drink.
Miss Bennett was of quiet disposition and
was greatly beloved by all who knew her Her
mother died in the same house about two years
ago, and since that time she had kept house
and been a great comfort to her father, A
brother, Reuben, with his wife and young
child, have been living with Miss Bennett for
about six months, young Mr.. Bennett being
employed at the navy. yard, as is another
brother, who resides in the southeast
: The family home is at Watertown, Wis, Mr.
Bennett having come to this city about seven
years ago to accept a position in the Depart
ment of Agriculture, at the earnest solicitation
of Secretary Rusk. He was quite prominent
IN Wisconsin, having served in the state sem
ate TOR some years. Since coming to this city
Mr. Bennett and his daughter, who is now
dead, have been connected with ST. Marks
church, and were high in Episcopalian coun-
Marks church, was sent for when Miss Bennett
was seen to be dying last night, but arrived too
late to administer to the unfOr tunate young
lady.
The fire at the house caused but little dam
age, as the concrete floor prevented the spread
of the flames. The gasoline, however, had
Leaked all over the floor. An alarm had been
turned in from box 634 which called out the
department, as we'll as the police reserve of the
Ninth precinct, but their services were not
needed in quenching the flames.