Gnadt, Frances Katherine (child –April 28, 1919-Feb. 22, 1924 –daughter of John Gnadt and Olive Goetz –born Clarks Mills, Town of Cato –died in gas explosion, along with her sister Leona –died from “burns of skin and fascia” –“The explosion of a gasoline tank at the home of John Gnadt in St. Nazianz at noon on Friday caused the death of two children, very serious injuries to their mother and severe burns to their father. The two little daughters, Leona 5, and Frances 3, were so badly burned that the oldest died two hours after the tragedy and the other six hours later. Mr. Gnadt brought from the basement of his home the gas tank of a gasoline stove which he wanted to take to the old mill, where a tractor school was being held. He was quite a distance from the stove when he shook the can to see if it was empty (which it was, with only a few drops in it). When shaking it Mr. Gnadt noticed a spark on the valve and he immediately tried to throw the can into the next room where nobody was, but it exploded before he got it out of his hand. A sheet of flame enveloped the room, and the two little girls who were near their father, where horribly burned and suffered terrible agony until death came.” –from newspaper article) –buried at St. Gregory Catholic Cemetery in St. Nazianz, Town of Eaton [buried in Section 3, Row 4, Lot 19 –stone] [death record Manitowoc 20-549]
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FRANCES KATHERINE GNADT

Tri-County Record - February 28, 1924

Fatal Accident in Home of John Gnadt at St. Nazianz Friday Noon.

The explosion of a gasoline tank at the home of John Gnadt in St. Nazianz at noon on Friday caused the death of two children, very serious injuries to their mother and severe burns to their father. The two little daughters, Leona 5, and Frances 3, were so badly burned that the oldest died two hours after the tragedy and the other six hours later.

Mr. Gnadt brought from the basement of his home the gas tank of a gasoline stove which he wanted to take to the old mill, where a tractor school was being held. He was quite a distance from the stove when he shook the can to see if it was empty (which it was, with only a few drops in it). When shaking it Mr. Gnadt noticed a spark on the valve and he immediately tried to throw the can into the next room where nobody was, but it exploded before he got it out of his hand. A sheet of flame enveloped the room, and the two little girls who were near their father, where horribly burned and suffered terrible agony until death came.

The mother, who was nearby, received the full force of the explosion and the flames seared the flesh off her face, hands and lower limbs. According to Dr. W.A. Rauch, who was called after the accident, her condition is still serious.

The husband with his head a mass of burns and the hand that held the can charred badly led his screaming family from the house and rolled them in a snow bank until he had extinguished the flames.

The report of the explosion was heard by neighbors who rushed to the Gnadt home and summonded help.
(read the rest of the story in her sister, Leona's bio)