Obit for Mrs. George (Anna EVERETT) PRESTON(b.1836 d.1913), Olmsted Co., MN 

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The Post and Record, ?
Friday, June 13, 1913

MRS. PRESTON GIVES LIFE TO SAVE BABES
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Mrs. George Preston Passes Away While Saving Babes From Fire Fiend---
Death Caused By Heart Failure---Fire Department Not To Blame Says Cudmore---
House Nearly Destroyed
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While attempting to save two children from her home that was in flames,
Mrs. George Preston gave her life, at an early hour this morning. The 
cause of death was heart failure, whihc was aggravated by the excitement
attending the discovery of the flames and her frantic endeavor to save
the babes. The sad tragedy of the early morning fire is made doubly
distressing in the view of the fact that Mr. Preston, the husband of the
deceased woman, left on an evening train Thursady for Mexico, hastening 
to the bedside of a sister who is near death's door. Efforts to locate
Mr. Preston have met with failure according to the latest report.
	Fire which practically destroyed the residence on Grove street,
and caused the death of Mrs. Preston, was discovered about 2 o'clock 
this morning by Frank Preston, a nephew of Mr. Preston, who is a brakeman
on the Great Western and who stays at their home. When the flames were 
first noticed they had not gained headway and Mr. preston rushed to the 
apartments above and aroused Mrs. Preston.
	The alarm was sounded and by the time the department had arrived
on the scene, the entire rear of the home was enveloped in the flames, 
which were wqithout delay smothered. The rear of the house and the 
upper story are practically ruined and much of the furniture was lost
but all is covered by insurance. Mr. Preston owned the place.
	Considerable criticism has been expressed about the city 
relative to the work of the fire department and the belief has been
expressed that the department was to blame for Mrs. Preston's death.
	William Cudmore, acting chief of the department, discredits 
the stories that are in circulation and he is sustained by members of
Mrs. Preston's family who place no blame against the department. The
Post and Record has made an effort to investigate the facts in the 
case and a representative interviewed Mr. Cudmore as well as relatives 
of Mrs. Preston.
	According to Mr. Cudmore, after Frank Preston had aroused Mrs. 
George Preston, he told her he would get the children, who were sleeping 
above, but Mrs. Preston advised him to turn in the alarm while she could
save the babes. Frank preston went immediately to turn in the alarm, and
Mrs. Preston went upstairs.
	When Mr. Preston returned Chief Cudmore asked if anyone was in
the house and he was informed that Mrs. Preston and the children had gone 
to a neighbor's home. Jack McHugh investigated the second floor of the 
home and Chas. Fones flashed a searchlight into the apartments above,
but found no one in the bed. It is believed that when the department 
sent its stream of water in the upper room that it must of forced 
over the bed in which hid Mrs. Preston and the children from Fones' view.
	When entrance was made into teh home, the lifeless body of Mrs.
Preston was found on the stair landing above, and the two children nearby,
all of them drenched with water and clad in their night robes.
	There was no evidence that death was caused by smothering or any
signs on any of them burning.
	Mrs. George Preston, the victim of the unfortunate affair, was 
forty-seven years of age the 29th of May. Her maiden name was Anna 
Everett and she was born at South Troy. In April of 1897, she was 
married to George Preston at South Troy. nine years ago they came to
Olmsted county, living on the Pease farm for one year and then moving 
to Rochester, where they have resided since.
	No children were born to the union, but an adopted daughter
four years of age mourns the loss of a tender devoted parent. The other 
child was a four weeks' old babe, to which Mrs. Preston was giving 
temporary care.
	She is survived by her husband, her mother, Mrs. Mary Everett
of South Troy, and one brother and five sisters, who are George Everett,
Mrs. Lucy Robinson, and Miss Laura Everett of South Troy, Mrs. Nellie 
Anderson of Hammond, Mrs. Alice Bailey of McGrath, Canada, and Mrs. Sadie
Dieter of this city.
	The funeral services will probably be held on Sunday at South Troy
with a short service here. Mrs. Preston was a member of the Christian
church, a woman of Christian ideals and devoted to her home. In her sad
death the sympathy of a wide circle will be extended to the family.