Aberdeen Daily News Saturday, Nov 20, 1909
Resulting from an embolism, a loose clot of blood forming in his veins, last night at the St. Luke’s hospital, death came very suddenly to Herman Rhoda, the farmer who two weeks ago was severely burning in a gasoline explosion while he was riding from James to his farm, a short distance south of that place. The demise of Mr. Rhoda was very sudden.
Shortly before he died he was talking to his wife, and soon after she left he became suddenly ill, and before she could be summoned, he had passed away. Rhoda, some two weeks ago was riding from James to his farm in a lumber wagon, in which a quantity of gasoline had been hauled the day before.
While on the road, he lighted a cigar, and as he struck the match, a terrific explosion followed. He sustained burns on his side and hand. He was at once brought to the hospital in this city and was doing very well, being able to sit up, and get about his room a little.
Every one thought that he would recover from his accident without permanent injury, and his death last night was very shocking event to the nurses of the hospital. The body will be shipped back to the home at Groton this evening at 8:30 o’clock. It will be accompanied by the wife, mother and daughter. Mrs. Rhoda has been in the city with her husband for some time, and the mother and daughter arrived this morning. The deceased was 37 years old.
~Transcribed by volunteer researcher, Kathy Smith