Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-03-16
MRS. J||HI WESTON
BURNED 70 DEATH
Mother of Mrs. George W.
McGill Meets Terrible Fate
at Peoria, Ill.
HUSBAND ALSO BADLY BURNED
In Trying to Save His Wife Venerable
Pastor sustains Injuries That Send
Him to HospitaI-Mrs. McGilI Sum
moned From NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Here Shocked at News.

Marshalltown friends will he shocked
to hear Of a terrible accident to Mrs.
John Weston, mother of Mrs. George
McGill, formerly Of this city. but now
of Minneapolis. Mrs. Weston was
burned to death while rakiny leaves,
and her husband, Rev. DIR. Weston, in
efforts to save his wife, is in a Peoria
hospital suffering from severe burns.
The news came In telegram to
Mrs. L. Derby Sunday morning. The
accident happened Friday afternoon,
and Mrs. Weston died the sarae even
ing in the hospital Mr.. and lIrs. Nc
Gill left Minneapolis Friday night for
Peoria, and will be there until after it
is known definitely what the outcome
Of MIR. Westons burns will he.
Rev and Mrs. Weston are well
known here. where they have visited
many times during the residence of
their daughter in this city. The Nc
ellis moved to Minneapolis lust sum
mer, where Mr.. McGill is in charge of
the business Of the Clarke Coal and
Coke Company.
The Peoria Herald Transcript of
Saturday tells of the terrible accident
as follows:
Peoria's venerated pastors. Rev John
Weston. Of the Calvary Presbyterian
church. died at 6:10 last evening, as
the result Of burns acquired in terri
bic accident that occurred shortly af-
ter o'clock yesterday afternoon. Her
husband was painfully burned about
the face and arms in valiant attempt
to save her from injury, and his burns
may result seriously
Was Burning Dead Gratis.
Mrs. Weston, at the time of the ac-
cident, had just completed ralling the
dead grass from the lawn which sur
rounds the parsonage at 313 Bigelow
street She had raked the grass and
rubbish which had accumulated on the
lawn turnout the past winter in one
long windrow across the yard, and had
fired it. The blaze ate it's way rapidly
diOu& thC WluuIOW dlu III d LEW lIllu.
utes it had neared fence and some
in the rear premises. Mrs.
Weston, fearing that the flames were
getting beyond her control, attempted
to extinguish them, and in so doing
her dress became ignited, and in
second she was a mass of leaping
flames. Her screams attracted the at
tention Of her husband, who was with
in the house at the time. and many
neighbors. Rev. Weston rushed to her
assistance, carrying a quilt, which he
threw about her in an effort to sub
due the fire, that had already accom-
plished it's deadly purpose. and had al
most completely consumed all the
clothing from her body, leaving the
flesh black and bleeding.
Every Effort to Save Her.
"Rev. Weston wrapped her in the
quilt and rolled her on the earth, at
tempting to smother the fire. Neigh
and it was but few minutes before
the aged woman was picked tenderly
from the ground and brought to the
residence, where Drs. Hinkle, Sedg-
wick and Miller attended her.
"All efforts were made by the ply
sicians to relieve the terrible suffer-
ings of the aged woman, which she
withstood with the utmost fortitude,
until the agony became unhearable.
and she lapsed into Inconsistencies
and quietly passed away few hours
later.
1.-THE Rev. Mr.. Weston's injuries
while excruciatingly painful, are not
serious. Complications,
ingly dangerous owing to his advanced
age.
1.-THE accident has caused pail of
gloom to fall about all who have had
occasion to come into contact with
the venerable couple, and the entire
East Bluff, as well as members of all
IN the city are mourn
Ing the loss Of Mrs. Weston.
"Alice Caroline Stephens, wife Of
Rev. John Weston, was born at New
ton. New Jersey, on December 30,
1871. When she was six years Of age
the family removed to Batavia, where
they resided for some time. Mr..
Stephens building and operating
paper Iulu Ill IIldI place. Ldl6F SHI.
cago became the family's residence.
Here she met Mr.. Weston while he
was student in the Mccormick the
illogical seminary. They were married
on May 8. 1867, at Milwaukee, and
took up their residence
in Peoria, where Dr. Weston had but
The month before accepted a call to
become the pastor Of what was then
Calvary Mission church. Excepting
an interval of twelve years, four at
Elmira, ILL.,, four at Evanston, and
Jour at st. Louis, their married life
has been spent in Peoria
give children were born into the
'amily. Hugh Stephens. Alice Belle,
Albert Henry, Jessie Katherine and
Caroline Mae. All OF these survive
heir mothers death. except Albert.
Who died in st. Louis. April 3 1904.
THE deceased was an earnest. devo-
ed Christian faithful worker and
, beloved mother of Calvary church.
She is mourned by a wide circle of
friends. who have been stricken by
Ter sudden taking away"
Marshalltown Girl Webs.
The Webster City Freeman Tribune