ERNA MITTNACHT

WEST SIDE WOMAN SEVERELY BURNED WHEN CLOTHING
IS FIRED BY BLAZING PAPER
Mrs. Lester Mittnacht, 24, in Precarious Condition at Hospital as
Result of Accident at Her Home this Morning. Body Badly Burned
Suffering from severe burns to her body, sustained when her clothing
was ignited while she was starting a fire at her home on Twenty-sixth
street early today, Mrs. Lester Mittnacht is at the hospital in
precarious condition and grave fears are entertained for her life.
The accident happened at 9 this morning. Mrs. Mittnacht, who is 24
and whose husband is employed as a brakeman on the Northwestern road,
had laid a fire in the stove, using paper but it failed to burn and
she made another attempt, lighting the paper, the flame from which
burst from the stove and ignited her skirt, which in a second was a
blaze. Suffering from pain and fright Mrs. Mittnacht rushed from the
house into the open air where the wind fanned the flames and in a
moment the woman was a living torch, her clothing being completely
aflame. Cries of Mrs. Mittnacht attracted the attention of workmen
at the Home Builders’ addition near by and Edward Herman and others
rushed to her assistance, but not before she had been seriously burned.
Mr. Herman secured a blanket and with others succeeded in smothering
the flames after pulling part of the burning clothing from the woman’s
body. The ambulance was called and Mrs. Mittnacht was removed to the
hospital where Drs. Meany and Hammond attended her. It was found upon
examination that Mrs. Mittnacht had suffered extremely severe burns,
one half of the body on the back and limbs being terribly affected
and she suffered greatly. The most severe burns are about the limbs
though the back is also badly burned. The face and neck escaped severe
injury.
Mrs. Mittnacht is 24 years of age and the wife of Lester Mittnacht,
who is employed as a brakeman by the Northwestern line. She is the
mother of two small children. Physicians said this afternoon that
Mrs. Mittnacht’s condition was serious but that there was a chance
that she would survive.
Manitowoc Daily Herald, Wednesday, June 13, 1917, Page 1
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BURNS SUFFERED BY MRS. L. MITTNACHT SATURDAY PROVE FATAL,
PASSES AWAY AT HOSPITAL
Burns which she suffered a few days ago when her clothing was fired
while she was lighting a fire at her home, proved fatal for Mrs.
Lester Mittnacht, Twenty-sixth street, Mrs. Mittnacht passing away
at the hospital this morning. Mrs. Mittnacht was severely burned
about the body, her back and legs having been terribly affected by
the flames which enveloped her body as she rushed from her home into
the air following discovery that her skirts had caught fire from the
stove. Mrs. Peter Mittnacht, mother in law of the unfortunate victim
and E.R. Herman, who was engaged at work near by, rushed to assistance
of the woman and succeeded in smothering the flames but not before
fatal burns had been inflicted. Mrs. Mittnacht was removed to the
hospital and hopes were entertained that she would live but the shock
was too great.
Mrs. Mittnacht, nee Ernestine Post, adopted daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Emil Hopf, was 22 years of age, having been born May 2, 1895. She was
married two years ago and is survived by her husband and two small
children. The funeral of Mrs. Mittnacht will be held Friday afternoon
at 2 from the home.
Manitowoc Daily Herald, Wednesday, June 20, 1917, Page 1
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[bur. 06-22-1917/cause: accidental burns/bur. on Lester Mittnacht lot]