She died from burns in a house fire started on Fourth of July Eve, 1900, mistakenly believing her two- year- old youngest daughter was still in the house. On the eve of Fourth of July, when everybody was busy preparing for the gala time incidental to Independence Day, this community was destined to be cast into a shadow of gloom that even a Fourth of July celebration could not remove. Shortly after the hour of nine o'clock, when many people were preparing to retire for the night, the fire bell pealed out upon the clear night air and notwithstanding the prompt arrival of assistance it was too late to save a human life, Mrs. R. Hund had received burns which caused her death a few hours later.

Having bathed her little ones, she sent them off to bed, the boys going up stairs first, but not immediately going to sleep on account of the oppressive heat incidental to the day and evening, and boy-like were romping about having a good time. Their noise and enjoyment attracted the attention of the baby, a little miss of two years, who went up stairs and on reaching the top thereof overturned a lamp which had been left in the hall to light the way. In an instant there was a fire and the oldest boy was not slow in making the fact known and with good presence of mind removed the little one from the scene of danger by sliding her down the stairs into a clothes basket.

The mother, who but a few moments before had so carefully cared for her little ones, romped with them and joked with her husband in the happiest manner, realizing the danger which confronted her family, rushed up the stairs and with her dress endeavored to extinguish the flames, but in doing so her clothing caught fire and although she then endeavored to secure a quilt it was too late, she was a mass of flames and but for the prompt arrival of her husband, would have probably perished on the spot.

Mr. Hund happened to be near and hearing the cries rushed into the house just in time to assist his wife down the burning stairway. On reaching the foot of the stairs Mrs. Hund broke loose from her husband, who was endeavoring to tear the burning clothing from her person, and ran through the kitchen to the rear of the house leaping over the fence railing on the back porch into a barrel of water, thus extinguishing the flames. Mr. Hund not seeing the baby, thought it must still be up stairs and rushed back to the stairway to secure the little one but the heat was too great, he could not push his way through such a fire and fortunately too, for the baby was safe without a scratch as was afterwards shown. As it was, Mr. Hund was quite severely burned about the face and arms. Parties upon the opposite side of the street by this time had noticed the fire through the upstairs windows and rushed to the scene, Wm. Flannigan being one of the first to arrive and with the assistance of others and a few pails of water soon had the fire out.

Mrs. Hund was removed to the sitting room and doctors sent for, Drs. Schefcik and Kreuger responding within a few moments and assisted by Dr. Annis, of Winnebago City, who happened to be present, and several ladies, did everything possible to alleviate the poor woman's sufferings. The doctors worked heroically for several hours but to no avail and at two o'clock death relieved her pain. Mrs. Hund's burns were terrible and deep, every part of her body being more or less seared by the flames, her hair burned off and her face blackened by the smoke.

None of the children were burned and the property loss is insignificant. The children were all taken in hand by kind neighbors for the night while other willing hands worked until morning in straightening up the house and doing everything possible for human beings to do.

Mrs. Hund was a woman of lovable disposition, always kind and cheerful, ever looking forward to the pleasure of those about her, devoting her entire energies to her family, church, and friends. In the church as a member of the various societies she was ever a willing worker, laboring to advance the interests of the church and the cause which it represented. Her death leaves a vacant chair in the family no one can fill and the little ones so suddenly bereft of mother, and the husband of wife and helpmate, have the sincere sympathy of the community.

The deceased was born in Mankato township in March, 1868, being a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Kiffe, who were among the pioneer settlers at Mankato, locating there in 1856. She was married on the first day of July, 1886, to Mr. R. Hund and lived at Mankato until six years ago when they moved to Mapleton. Mrs. Hund was the mother of eight children all of whom are living except one, the oldest being thirteen years of age and the youngest a baby of two years.

The funeral will take place from the Catholic church this Friday morning at ten o'clock, Rev. Father (Edward) Stack officiating, assisted by Father Fox of New Rienland, her former pastor.

"The Broken Chain"
We little knew that morning that God was going to call your name.
In life we loved you dearly, in death we do the same.
It broke our hearts to lose you, you did not go alone.
For part of us went with you, the day God called you home.
You left us peaceful memories, your love is still our guide.
And though we cannot see you, you are always at our side.
Our family chain is broken, and nothing seems the same,
But as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Life is but a stopping place,
A pause in what's to be,
A resting place along the road,
to sweet eternity.
We all have different journeys,
Different paths along the way,
We all were meant to learn some things,
but never meant to stay...
Our destination is a place,
Far greater than we know.
For some the journey's quicker,
For some the journey's slow.
And when the journey finally ends,
We'll claim a great reward,
And find an everlasting peace,
Together with our Lord.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We thought of you with love today
But that is nothing new,
We thought about you yesterday
And days before that too.
We think of you in silence
We often speak your name,
Now all we have are memories
And your picture in a frame.
Some may think you are forgotten
Though on earth you are no more,
But in our memory you are with us
As you always were before.
A million times we've thought of you
A million times we've cried,
If loving could have saved you
You would have never died.
You left us beautiful memories
Your love is still our guide,
And though we cannot see you
You are always at our side.
It broke our hearts to lose you
But you did not go alone,
Part of us went with you
On the day God called you home.
Forgive me Lord, I'll always weep
For the best friend I loved, but could not keep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is No Death

There is no death! The stars go down
To rise upon some other shore,
And bright in heaven's jeweled crown
They shine forevermore.

There is no death! The forest leaves
Convert to life the viewless air;
The rocks disorganize to feed
The hungry moss they bear.

There is no death! The dust we tread
Shall change, beneath the summer showers
To golden grain, or mellowed fruit,
Or rainbow-tinted flowers.

There is no death! The leaves may fall,
And flowers may fade and pass away-
They only wait, through wintry hours,
The warm, sweet breath of May.

There is no death! The choicest gifts
That heaven hath kindly lent to earth
Are ever first to seek again
The country of their birth.

And all things that for growth or joy
Are worthy of our love or care,
Whose loss has left us desolate,
Are safely garnered there.

Though life becomes a desert waste,
We know it's fairest, sweetest flowers,
Transplanted into Paradise,
Adorn immortal bowers.

The voice of birdlike melody
That we have missed and mourned so long,
Now mingles with the angel choir
In everlasting song.

There is no death! Although we grieve
When beautiful, familiar forms
That we have learned to love are torn
From our embracing arms-

Although with bowed and breaking heart,
With sable garb and silent tread,
We bear their senseless dust to rest,
And say that they are 'dead,'

They are not dead! They have but passed
Beyond the mists that blind us here
Into the new and larger life
Of that serener sphere.

They have but dropped their robe of clay
To put their shining raiment on;
They have not wandered far away-
They are not 'lost nor 'gone.'

Though disenthralled and glorified
They still are here and love us yet;
The dear ones they have left behind
They never can forget.

And sometimes, when our hearts grow faint
Amid temptations fierce and deep,
Or when the wildly raging waves
Of grief or passion sweep,

We feel upon our fevered brow
Their gentle touch, their breath of balm;
Their arms enfold us, and our hearts
Grow comforted and calm.

And ever near us, though unseen,
The dear, immortal spirits tread-
For all the boundless universe
Is Life- there are no dead!