The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-03-20
William Oehefs
Burned to Death


From fridays oaiiy
/ william oehlers found death In
the fiames which destroyed his home
lon the north shore OF Eagle Lake
| last night. He was slxty-five years
old.
Mrs. 0ehler and two daughters
had been calling. at the home Of
Mrs. Frank Mention. daughter, dur
ling the evening and had left Mr.,
oehier alone in the house. They
returned about one O'Clock this
sporning. As they approached the
farm they discovered that the house
was alre They hurried to. the
dwelling. aud boing unable 10 open
the door, broke IN n window. This
created draft that quickly spread
the haucs through the whole house
and Il was quickly moderated.
:, For a long time after the news
of the catastrophe had spread To the
nelghbors and a large crowd had
gathered around, there was a great
deal OF doubt whether the victim
was In the house when & burned,
and all that could be said to a Ger
taiRty was that the house had been
completely consumed with about all
OF the furniture and that William
ochler was missing. -...E,
Found Body Today.
! About eleven o'clock, however, rem
nants OF the body were found. Part
OF the heart and Backbone were
picked out OF the debris. and thus all
doubt that the man had met a tragic
death In the flames was removed.
II is supposed that the fire origin
ated In the kitchen. No one seemed
1 to be able to account for Il In any
other way. Mr.. Oebler had been
| accustomed to sleep upstairs and II
Is supposed that he went to bed as
usual. but In the night was aroused
by smoke. and made his way down
stairs. II Is thought that he was
overcome by the smoke before he
was able 10 make his way OUT Of the
house and thus lest his life in the
flames. tt,
At what time the IRE started can
only be conjectured, but II is,
thought TO have been az some time
| between ten and eleven O'Clock.
| This would be In accordance with
the usual custom OF Mr.. oehler re-
! firing, and the fact that at one.
| O'Clock, when the other members OF
1.-THE family returned. there was 1T
Tic left of the interior of the house.
80 Family Were az Neishbo,s.
Mrs. Oehler and her daughter had
been at the home OF the other daagh-
/. ter. Mrs. Frank Mention, where o
meeting Of a farmers club was held
that evening. On reaching home and
discovering that the house was
afire. they made desperate EFFORTS to
get in. Tiiey could. not force the
door, but Mrs. ,oehier broke win
dow. cutting her hand badly She
managed TO reach In 60 dresser and
Ipuii out drawer. THIS she drew
out through the window. Neigbbors
were soon attracted by her screams.
Coroner Liedioff was at the scene
of the disaster this morning.
IN Mankato Yesterday.
| Mr.. Oehler was In Mankato yes
terday, having some dental work
done by DIR. If. +. Heidcl. He was
having HIS teeth taken out. a few at
a time. getting ready for a dental
plate. Two OF his teeth we're re
moved yesterday and he was due
to come back carly next week and
have two more taken out. He was
Esomewllat afraid OF the dental work
! and had taken a lfttle liquor 10
steady his nerves.
Mr.. and Mrs. Ochlcr have Eve
grown children. two boys and three
girls. Tho sons are Ieino y.
oehler OF Msnksto. married. q
clerk IN the railway mail service,
and Waiter oeiiier. single, also OF
Mankato. a bartender. The daugh.
ters are Mrs. Frank Mention Of
Eagle Lake, Miss Hattie 0ehlct.
aged IS, and Miss Edna oehier, aged
u the latter Two living at the
+. uOulCs Wdo utottO1
II seems odd that the victim did
not make use OF a ladder which
stood against the back of the house,
right by the window OF The bedroom
where Mr.. Ochler slept. TO, be used
In case OF fire. On arriving home
with her two younger daughters,
Mrs 0ehler assembled this ladder
and broke. the window in the hope
OF arousing her husband. He was
not In the room mt the time. but
bis body. probably. with the life ex-
tinct by that time, vas, among the
burning debris at the foot of the
stairs. M
The .Oehlers have been very we'll.
to-ie. The father had recently sold
oae very valuable farm. and still
Icwncd another.
No Inquest Necessary.
& Coroner Licdloff stated late this
AFTERNOON that he did not think there
would be an inquest. There was no
levldehce Of foul play. but It was
merely an accidental death, rs FAR
las could be made out. II any rob.
berry had been committed Il was not