Keith Preston's obituary, Sunfield, Eaton County, Michigan
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SUBJECT: Keith PRESTON
SUBMITTER: Jan Lubitz Sedore
EMAIL: am0773@a1access.net
DATE: Apr 13, 1999
SURNAMES: PRESTON, HULETT
THE SUNFIELD SENTINEL
Thursday, July 28, 1898
IN FIERCE FLAMES
Little Keith Preston Fatally Burned

Last Thursday evening the village was thrown into intense excitement
by the report that Keith Preston was seriously burned. Investigation
proved the report too true.

No one is able to tell exactly how the incident occurred, but this
much is known. Keith and Hubert Snyder were heard in high merriment
back of Mr. Skinner's blacksmith shop, where he had been setting wagon
tires during the afternoon, and had put the fire out as usual all
but a few coals and hot ashes. Keith's mother noticed him dangerously
near a pile of blazing shavings and called to him to come away, but
he was enjoying himself too much to yield immediate obedience.

About this time she noticed smoke apparently coming from his clothing,
and quickly started for him with a rag, but before she could get down
stairs (they live over the Blasier store building), the child's clothing
had burst into flames and he was running across the street as swiftly
as his feet could carry him.
Mrs Snyder and Mrs Kaercher saw him coming and ran to catch him, but
he was so frantic with pain that they could not get hold of him until
he stopped at Mrs. Kaercher's cistern, where his father succeeded
in getting hold of him, quickly removing the burning garments from
him and carrying him home.

Hubert Snyder (five years old), was playing with Keith says he fell
into the fire, but this can not be settled by adult testimony.

Dr. Snyder was called and everything possible was done for the child,
but it was seen from the start that he could not live. The skin sloughed
off from his side, neck, chest and arms, having the nerves bare. The
resulting nervous shock and the interrupted circulation were too much
for any human organism. The pain was relived by opiates, and the child
sank steadily till one o'clock, Friday morning, when life ceased.

The funeral was held from the home of Mr. and Mrs Daniel Hulett, Mrs
Preston's parents, Saturday morning, Rev. A. K. Stewart conducting
short but appropriate ceremonies. The burial was made in the Freemire
cemetery.

Keith would have been six years old the 14th of next month. He was
a very active and energetic boy, had been in school one term and was
quite a favorite with teacher and fellow pupils. His Sunday school
class, numbering about twenty-five, taught by Mrs. E. H. Deatsman,
attended the funeral in a body. His playmates were wonderfully solemnized
by the strange, sad accident that took him so suddenly away. The whole
community is filled with sympathetic grief for the bereaved parents
and relatives. We hope never again to be compelled to write so sad
an article for the columns of the Sentinel.