SEAMAN, Mrs. Milton

Greeley Tribune (Greeley, Weld County); Date: Dec 17, 1896 Page 5 MRS SEAMAN’S HORRIBLE DEATH While Alone in the House Her Dress Caught Fire--Died this morning at 6:30 About 9 o’clock last night as Doctor Hawes while on professional business was driving by Milton Seaman’s residence on Ninth Street, west, he saw a strange figure all ablaze running from the read door of the residence into the yard. At first he thought it a straw image in the hands of some playful boys, but piercing and agonizing screams undeceived him and realizing that something awful had happened he jumped from his buggy and ran toward the blaze to render what assistance lay in his power. Before he reached the spot the blazing figure sank to the ground and when he reached the spot he saw the form of Mrs. Milton Seaman writhing in horrible agony. Assistance was hastily summoned and the poor woman conveyed to the house. All that human skill and treatment could do proved unavailing and at 6:30 the poor sufferer breathed her last. There was no one in the house at the time the accident occurred excepting two little children, a year old boy and a girl of three, both of whom were in bed and how it happened is partly left to conjecture. It is supposed the Mrs. Seaman had been filling a lamp and spilled some of the kerosene on her dress. Then while she was standing the fire the dress caught fire, resulting as stated. Fully four-fifths of the flesh from her body was burned to a crisp. Hair and eyebrows were burned off and as the poor sufferer was being cared for, her body presented a horrible and sickening appearance. Doctor Hawes is of the opinion that the shock numbed the sensibility of pain in a great degree as toward the end she seemed to suffer less. It is sincerely hoped that such was the case as no more horrible death can be conceived than being roasted alive. (Linn Grove cemetery has a LAURA Seaman…Buried Dec 18, 1896 …age 26)