Statewide County AZ Archives Obituaries.....Conger, Mrs. Chester 1901
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D. Joshua Taylor http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00006.html#0001358 and Elizabeth Burns  July 17, 2005, 2:36 pm

Arizona Republican-Sept. 5, 1901
MRS. CHESTER CONGER
September 5, 1901

Mrs. Chester Conger was burned to death at her home at the 
corner of Fourth and Taylor Streets, a little after 4 o'clock 
yesterday afternoon.  She died at 8 o'clock last night after 
great suffering, mercifully relieved in part by the terrible 
shock she had sustained.

She was alone at the time of the accident and though she
retained consciousness until she went under the influence of 
opiates, nearly two hours later, she was unable to give a 
clear account of it.  She had lighted a gasoline stove to 
prepare dinner.  It was thought that the stove exploded, 
but neighbors did not hear it, though  some of them thought 
they heard a noise like an explosion after Mrs. Conger was 
on fire.  The stove was a small one of a very old pattern 
and was set on a box.  It was found toppled over on the 
floor, broken, perhaps by the fall.  The reservoir, a 
very large one, was intact.  There is a theory that the 
stove slipped form the box and in falling a pipe was broken 
from which gasoline was thrown upon Mrs. Conger.  She was 
clad in a gown of light cotton material and she was 
instantly aflame from head to foot.  She must have had 
great presence of mind.  She ran from the kitchen 
through the dining room to a closet, where there was a 
woolen blanket.  She wrapped herself in the blanket and 
started again to the rear of the house.  At the kitchen 
door she was met by Mrs. W.A. Moeur, who lives next door 
and by a milkman.  She was no longer on fire.  Every 
particle of clothing had been burned away.  She walked 
with assistance to Mrs. Moeur's residence.  In her 
flight through the house she had set two door jams on 
fire.

The fire department had been called out but on its arrival 
there was very little to do.  The flames had licked over 
the woodwork of the kitchen but had not bitten deep and 
were quickly extinguished.  Dr. Hughes arrived first then 
Dr. Plath and last Dr. Craig.  There was nothing for them 
to do but relieve the closing hours as much as possible.  
The body was taken last night to Mohn and Easterlings and 
the funeral will take place at 5 o'clock this afternoon 
from the residence of Mrs. Conger's parents on the Tempe 
Road.  Mrs. Jennie Kurtz Conger was a daughter of Mr. 
and Mrs. W.F. Fickas.  She was 27 years of age and was 
married about six years ago to Chester Conger who has 
for several years been employed by the Alkire Dry Goods 
Company.  Mr. and Mrs. Conger had one child who died 
last fall.  The dead woman had grown up in Phoenix, 
loved by her schoolmates and by her neighbors and 
associates.

The Funeral
September 6, 1901

The funeral of Mrs. Jennie Kirtz Conger who was burned to 
death on Wednesday afternoon took place yesterday from the 
residence of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.F. Fickas who live 
on the Tempe Road.  The brief services were conducted by 
Rev. Frank Mayo and Rev. C.V. Cowan.  The pall bearers 
were  L.L. Plank, G.B. Crouch, George Alkire, Arthur G. 
Hulett and Marshall Armstrong.  Mr. B.A. Fickas, an 
uncle of Mrs. Conger was at Iron Springs with his family 
at the time of the tragedy.  He received a telegram a 
few minutes before train time and hurriedly prepared to 
return.  Mrs. Fickas could not get ready for the journey 
in time to accompany him.  Mrs. Conger's last words to 
those with her were "Don't grieve for me, I will be better 
off where I'm going."

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