Florence Trout 1889-1912

TROUT, GERARD, BURNETT, CROSS, BURNETT

Posted By: Beverly Gerdts (email)
Date: 1/19/2025 at 07:53:40

The Wapello Republican, Columbus Junction, Iowa
Thursday, July 11, 1912
Page 1

A terrible explosion occurred in Muscatine last Saturday afternoon when Mrs. Florence Trout, a well known resident of Louisa county, received injuries which resulted in her death and four other person were painfully burned. The fatality occurred at the home of E. Gerard at about 8 o'clock, when a kettle containing gasoline exploded, setting fire to the house and throwing the burning oil over four persons who were in the room at the time. The husband of the woman was severely burned about the face and hands when he tried to extinguish the flames which enveloped her and John Burnett, an occupant of the house, was also painfully burned when he sought to assisted Mr. Trout in the rescue work. Mrs. Fairie Gerard and Elston Gerard received burns on the face and hands, but their injuries were not such as to occasion any concern. A fire alarm was turned in shortly after the accident, but the flames had been extinguished before the department had arrived.

The accident was brought about through a mistake in which Mrs. Gerard and Mrs. Trout were both participants. Early in the afternoon Mrs. Gerard cleaned the gasoline stove and placed the gasoline which was taken from the reservoir into a kettle. Later, Mrs. Trout, thinking the gasoline to be water, poured a quantity of the fluid into a tea kettle and set it on the stove to heat. A terrific explosion followed igniting the clothing of the inmates. Mrs. Trout, who was standing but a few feet from the stove, was a burning torch in a second. Her screams brought her husband to her aid at once. He gathered up a feather bed and rushing into the room, smothered the flames which had already seared her flesh. Mrs. Trout was taken immediately to the hospital. Her body was so severely burned that the attending physicians knew that it was only a question of hours before her suffering would cease. Her death occurred shortly before eight o'clock Sunday.

Miss Florence A. Cross was born near Oakville, Ia., February 5, 1889, where she lived until eight years of age, when she moved to Keithsburg. In 1907 the family moved to Muscatine. On December 27, 1908, she was married to Chester L. Trout, of Blairstown, Ia., They made their home in Grandview and at the time of the fatal accident were visiting at the home of her mother, Mrs. Fairie Gerard. She is survived by her mother, two sisters, Mrs. John Burnett, of South Muscatine and Miss Etta Cross, also of Muscatine. Aside from her husband, a six weeks old son also survived. The funeral was held Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock.