The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1911-04-20
BURNED TO DEATH
Patrick W. Rooney LoSes Life in
Fire in His Cabin
ne USED TO LIVE HERE
Former Resident of Sank Centre
InCinerated in Fire at Flax
ton, North Dakota

Patrick W. Rooney lost his life in a
fire i'm his house on his claim at Flax
ton, n. D., on Wednesday, April u.
The remains were brought to Sank
Centre for burial He was former
resident Of this city. The facts about
Mr.. Rooney's death are as follows:
During the afternoon of Wednes-
day. April l., Mr.. Rooney had been
engaged in cleaning seed wheat. a
farm hand employed by neighbor
who lived u mile or so from Mr..
Rooneys house assisted him. This
man left about O'Clock in the after
noon for the home of his employer, as
the weather had become rather cold
and uncomfortable for the two men
to continue their work Of cleaning
grain. Nothing more is known Of
Mr.. Rooney's movements.
Shortly before six O'Clock that after
noon two men passed by the Rooney
place and discovered the house in
flames: in fact it had been burning
long enough SO that at that time it
was nearly consumed. The alarm was
spread and in a short time several
neighbors had congregated at the
scene. Nothing could be seen Of Mr.
Rooney. SO it was feared that he had
lost his life in the fire. This surmise
proved to be correct. for as soon as
the ruins had cooled sufficiently to
admit of search being made, what
was left of the unfortunate mans
body was discovered The body was
burned far beyond recognition, in facf
it was pretty nearly consumed.
The coroner was summoned and an
inquest was held. The investigation
was thorough and the jury brought
in verdict to the effect that the de-
deceased came to his death by being
burned as result of the explosion of
gasoline stove. Mr.. Rooney being a
single man lived alone and did his
own cooking, using gasoline stove
therefor. 1t is believed that after
completing his work that afternoon
he had repaired to lis house and
started to prepare his supper. and
that in some way an explosion of the
gasoline stove followed and that in
trying to extinguish this fire he was
so badly burned that he was unable
to get out Of the house and fell. and
remained there and was burned to
death
Mr.. Rooney purchased the claim on
which he lived. some ten years ago.
He was at that time manager Of a
construction crew on the 500 road.
He worked at that occupation some
eight years, meantime giving what
time he could to his claim. Eight
years ago ne quit work for the rail
road and went to live on his claim
which he had developed into a good
farm. He lived there until his death.
Patrick w. Rooney was 80 years of
age at the time of his death. He was
one of a family Of four sons and two
daughters. The father is still living.
The Rooney family lived in Sank
Centre for a number of years. Twenty
years ago, while the family lived here,
one sister died. Eleven years ago
the mother passed away. About a
year later the family left Sank Cen
ire. The father is now in Ireland but
will return to this country soon to
live with one of his sons.
Frank Rooney, a sister and an
other brother, Michael, WHO lives in
ST. Wendell, were here to attend the
funeral Monday morning. Frank is a
resident of Weyburn, Sask., Canada.
Interment was in the cemetery of the
Church of Our Lady of the Angels,
FIR. T. F. O'Connor officiating.