Explosion of Stove When Kerosene Was Used Caused Immediate Fire.
Building Fire In Stove
Ed Roggish Severely Burned About Lower Part of Body and Limbs.

A very serious accident happened about 11:00 o'clock Tuesday morning when an explosion occurred in the August Porsch (her husband) home.

Mrs. Emma Reimers, who had been taking care of Mrs. Porsch since a week ago Sunday when she had fallen and broke two ribs, called Mr. Roggish over to fix the cook stove which had not been working well. He came about 10:00 o'clock and thinking to burn out the soot, poured kerosene on a piece of paper and put it in the smoldering fire as this did not catch immediately he was applying the second paper, but when he raised the lid the stove exploded and also the can of kerosene he had in his hand, filling the room with soot, smoke, flames, and gas.

The flames shot out on Mr. Roggish, badly burning his clothes and legs to the knees, his face, hair and eyebrows singed. He ran out the door and by rolling in the high grass and flowers reduced the fire until help came when he was taken home and a doctor called.

Mrs. Reimers was so overcome by gas which filled her lungs it was all she could do to get outside and managed to get to the neighbors and sent in an alarm.

Mrs. Porsch who was in the bedroom off the kitchen made her way there to see what was the trouble was and was met by flames which burned her hair, face, hands, arms, and feet as she tried to cross the burning linoleum on the kitchen floor. The prompt arrival of firemen was certainly a relief. Mrs. Porsch was wrapped in a blanket and taken to the home of her daughter, Mrs. Leo Fuss, and the doctor called, Mrs. Reimers staying with her.

Mrs. Porsch is 77 years old and this was a severe shock for her. The Porsch home is badly damaged, the kitchen floor, walls, windows, and furniture being badly burned. The bedroom is smoked and more or less damaged. Relatives and kind friends and neighbors soon gathered at the saddened homes and are doing all that can be done to make the sufferers comfortable.

Later - Mrs. Porsch succumbed to her injuries and quietly passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Leo Fuss, at 3:00 o'clock Wednesday morning, September 28, 1927. The funeral will be held Friday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock from the Lutheran Church.

Born Wilhelmine Koalles, she was born August 27, 1950, in Germany.