Published in The Rochester Sentinel
Monday, February 13, 1899

One of the most distressing accidents ever witnessed in this city occurred at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Finley EMMONS, on north Fulton avenue Sunday noon, and resulted in the death of their eighteen year old daughter, Maggie [EMMONS]
For a number of years Maggie Emmons has been a cripple caused by spinal disease and was compelled to use a cane to assist her in walking. About noon Sunday while her parents were in the cellar on an errand she picked up the broom to brush up some ashes which had fallen from the grate at the fire place and in doing so her dress caught fire. The flames almost immediately enveloped her entire body, and she started to the cellar as rapidly as her crippled condition would permit, screaming for aid. Her mother met her on the stairway and seizing a piece of carpet threw it about Maggie and with the assistance of her father, whose hands were frightfully burned, succeeded in putting the fire out.
When the carpet was removed from the body it was discovered that the fire had done its work so thoroughly that but a small portion of her tight fitting undergarments remained of all her clothing, and she was literally roasted from head to foot. Only a small portion of her limbs below the knees remained unburned. All the balance of her body was either covered with blisters or roasted to a crisp. She had a fine head of long black hair and this was charred so that it fell off.
The report of the accident spread rapidly and the house was soon filled with sympathizing neighbors. Mr. Emmons has heart disease and the shock prostrated him so that for a long time it was feared that he would not survive. Dr. C. J. LORING was called and immediately stated that it would be impossible for the young lady to recover. At this time she was conscious although suffering excruciating agony, and directed about the dressing of the burns. Everything possible to medical skill and kind care was done to alleviate her sufferings during the afternoon, but death came to her relief at eight o'clock in the evening.
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Published in The Rochester Sentinel
Tuesday, February 14, 1899

Those wishing to may view the remains of Maggie EMMONS tomorrow from 10 to 11 o'clock.
The funeral of Maggie EMMONS, the young lady whose sad death was reported yesterday, will take place at the house on west Mill Creek street tomorrow at 11 o'clock.
--and--
Mr. & Mrs. Mack HISEY, of Hammond, and Mr. & Mrs. Roy GORDON, of the same place, came down last night to attend the funeral of Maggie EMMONS. Mrs. Hisey and Mrs. Gordon are sisters of the unfortunate girl.

SOURCE:
Fulton County Indiana Obits/Biogs - 1896-1900
by Wendell C. Tombaugh