The Warner Sun Friday, Aug 26, 1887
Emma A. Miller
A sad and terrible accident, which resulted in the death of Emma A. Miller, estimable wife of J. H. Miller, occurred at their residence one mile northwest of Warner last Monday morning. On that fatal morning Mrs. Miller rose at about 5 o’clock and after filling the tank of the gasoline stove attempted to light the burner. In filling the tank she accidentally spilled gasoline on her dress and in attempting to light the burner her clothes caught fire and immediately she was enveloped in flames. She started out of the house and ran down toward the Moccasin creek but did not cry for help.
Mr. Miller was out at the barn, but Mr. Ballard who was sleeping upstairs was awakened by the smell of burning gasoline immediately came down. Not seeing Mrs. M. any where in the house he ran to the door and there beheld a most pitiful sight. The unfortunate woman had ran about three rods from the house when she dropped to the ground a burning mass of human flesh. Mr. Ballard at once began tearing from her body what remained of her clothing. She was then carried to the house and laid upon the bed. Her entire body from her neck to her shoe tops was burned to a crisp, yet after the first ten minutes she said she suffered no pain. She lived until nearly three o’clock when she fell into a deep and peaceful sleep from which never to wake on this earth. She was conscious to the last and seemed not afraid to die.
Her remains were laid at rest in the village cemetery Wednesday afternoon. Rev. Mr. Brown delivering the funeral sermon. The heartbroken husband has the sympathy of the entire neighborhood. May she rest in peace.
~Transcribed by volunteer researcher, Kathy Smith