Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1916-05-24
DEADLY COAL OIL KILLS
Ole Veddum Receives Fatal
Burns Last Thursday.
LEFT WIFE and 4 CHILDREN.
Explosion Followed Use Of Oil For
Fire Lighting Friday Al
ternOOn-FuneraI at VirOqUa.

The common, but careless habit of
lighting fires with kerosene took its
deadly toll last Thursday morning
when Ole Veddum, of this city, was
burned so terribly that he succumbed
to his injuries on Friday afternoon,
and left widow and four fatherless
children.
The Mediums live in an humble
home on North Adams street where
they have resided since October last.
On Thursday morning Mr.. Veddum
started the kitchen fire shortly before
o'clock, and he, according to his
muttered statement, found the blaze
slow in igniting. Mr.. Veddum took
the two-gallon kerosene can and
poured oil on the kindling wood. AS
he did so the oil ignited and an ex-
plosion resulted that threw the burn
ing oil in large quantities over his
body.
The unfortunate man ran screaming
outside where he called for help and
then went inside where he endeavOr-
ed to pull his blazing clothes, con-
sisting of a suit of overalls, shirt
and underwear, from his body He
succeeded in doing this, but not until
the skin had peeled away from his
arms, chest and back. Con Wagner,
the section foreman who lives just
north of the Veddum home, saw what
had occurred and came over at once
as did Mrs. Elvira Rigdon, the near
est neighbOr.
They, with the distracted wife and
mother, placed Mr.. Veddum in bed and
sent call for DR.. Fowler, who arriv-
ed in a few minutes time. First aid was
given followed by treatment and
dressings, but at the time the physi-
clan felt little could be done. Mr..
Veddum was taken to DR.. FOWler's
hospital the next morning, where he
passed away at o'clock that after
noon. He seemed to suffer little pain
and was conscious part Of the time.
His wife was with him shortly before
the end came, when he advised her
to go home and care for their baby,
aged seven months. He died during
her absence.
Brief services were held at the
home Saturday afternoon, Rev. w. A.
Weyhrauch speaking words of hope
and comfort to the family. The body
was taken away on the afternoon
train to Viroqua where it was laid to
rest Sunday afternoon in the Asbury
M. E. cemetery, eight miles northwest
of that city,
On the day of the accident Mrs
Veddum telegraphed to her relatives
in Vernon county and at o'clock
Saturday morning Edward Rumsey
and wife of near VirOqua, Mrs We'd
dum's brOther-in-law and sister, and
Fred ChristiansOn and Inga Selin,
cousin and sister of Mrs. Veddum, ar
rived They drove overland, leaving
Viroqua at 9 o'clock in the evening"
The four children, Elfreida, aged z,
Wesley aged 5, Oatus aged 3 and the
baby, Mamie Irene months old, with
the widowed mother, accompanied the
body nOrthward.
Mr.. Veddum was native of Nor
way, where an aged mother survives,
not quite 80 years old, and came to
this country on May Is, 1904, thirteen
years to a day upon which the ac-
cident which cost him his life, occur
red He moved to Lancaster one year
ago last fall, and for awhile worked
for a farmer later doing day labor
around town He was a member of
1 the Methodist church in VirOqua coun-
/ ty, but had not affiliated himself with
any Lancaster religious body. Lately
he had been employed on section
work for the C. & n. w. railroad and
the few dollars coming to him from
this concern was practically all that
was left to the widow
Thomas lockwood Of this city, in
few hours time raised purse Of
$109.50 which was given to the widow
for the use of herself and the little
ones. Some ladies also hastily col
lected clothing for the children.
| Mrs Veddum has a brother and a
sister living on a farm in Vernon
county and the probabilities are that
she will make her home with them
During the funeral services little
Mamie Irene prattIed and coOed
while playing with button hook that
dropped upon the floor from time to
time and caused her vexation until it
was restored to her. The children
are bright and clean looking, but too
young to realize the sad fate Of their
father.