OBIT: Blanche (SMATHERS) FERGUSON, 1904, of interest in Cambria County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ _________________________________________ Cambria Freeman, Ebensburg, Pa. Friday, March 4, 1904 Volume XXXVIII, Number 10 Fire Brings Bereavement Daughter of Charles Smathers of this Place, Meets death as Result of an Accident The many friends of Charles Smathers of this place will be pained to learn of the sad death of his daughter which occurred recently. The following is the account published in a Clarion county paper. Mrs. Blanche Ferguson of East Brady met with a horrible accident at the home of her sister, Mrs. Hiram Clark on Franklin street, last Saturday evening which resulted in her death. Mrs. Ferguson whose maiden name was Blanche Smathers and who had been married only five months was visiting her sister, Mrs. Clark, having arrived on the noon train Saturday. At about five o'clock that evening while sitting with her sister in front of an open gas stove, her clothing by some means, caught fire. No one but her sister being present the young lady was terribly burned before assistance arrived. W. Pray, a fireman passing by, saw the lady on fire and rushed into the house, took off his overcoat and threw it around her, smothering the flames. The unfortunate lady was taken to the R. R. Mercy Hospital rooms and Dr. Malloy hastily summoned who dressed the burns. She was then taken to the City hospital where she was given the best medical attention but the burns proved fatal, lingering until 11:14 o'clock when she died. The body was taken to the undertaking rooms of N. R. Moore and prepared for shipping to Rymersburg then taken to the residency of Mr. and Mrs. B. M. Jourdent with whom she had lived before her marriage. The remains were sent to Rymersburg for burial. The funeral took place Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The young lady was twenty-six years old and is survived by her father and mother, three brothers and one sister. The brothers are Ross Smathers of Baltimore; Warren of Denver, Col.; and Lane of Rymersburg and the sister is Mrs. Belle Clark of East Brady.