UNKNOWN
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Mary Abrams
b. 1832
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d. May 31, 1892
Decatur, Macon County, Illinois
buried: June 1, 1892
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FATHER
unknown
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MOTHER
unknown
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MARRIED
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** There is conflicting information as to if Mary was ever married or not.
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CHILDREN
with ?
William Blake
(1852-1921)
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A SHOCKING ACCIDENT
Death of Mrs. Mary Abrams at Her Home on Mason Street
Mrs. Mary Abrams, aged 60 years, mother of William Blake, lies cold in death at her home in the brick house at 315 East Mason street. Last night between 11 and 12 o'clock, during the temporary absence of her son, a lamp in the room occupied by the old lady exploded, and while she attempted to save the house from destruction, by throwing the lamp out the back door, her clothing took fire, and before aid could come she was fatally burned. Her screams brought Blake and Charley Kempter to the house and also Officer W.W. Connard, who found Mrs. Abrams standing in the middle of the room, all the clothing burnt off her body. Her screams were agonizing and heart-rending. Dr. _ Rudenbrod was summoned, but he could do but little to alleviate the sufferings of the woman, who died shortly after two o'clock this morning. It will never be known just how the accident occurred, but it was evident to those who first arrived at the scene that Mrs. Abrams had done all she could to prevent the burning of the house. In this she was unsuccessful, but it cost her her life. The body presented a shocking appearance, burnt from head to foot, the worst on the face, neck, arms and hands. It was not deemed necessary to hold an inquest. The funeral will take place from Janes Chapel to-morrow at 10 o'clock a.m., Rev. J.T. Finley officiating.
Decatur Daily Republican, 31 May 1892 |
BURNED SO THAT SHE DIED
Mary Abrams Injured By An Exploding Lamp. Piercing screams aroused the neighborhood of Mason and Water streets at 11 last night. Those who tumbled out of bed and hurried to their windows saw flames coming from the home of Mrs. Mary Abrams at 315 East Mason street. It is almost alone on that side of the street, hid away between factories. Screams alone from that house would not have attracted much attention, because they have been frequent, but the sight of the flames soon caused all who saw them to hurry to the house. Charley Kemper was about the first man to get to the house. He reached the back door, having crossed the railroad from Cerro Gordo street. A terrible sight met his eyes as he went through the kitchen into the front room. The room was lighted by burning furniture and clothing, while in the center stood a woman perfectly naked, with her skin apparently burned off from head to foot. On the floor at her feet were the charred scraps of her night clothing and pieces of burned flesh that had dropped from her blistered body. She was still screaming at the top of her voice, and throwing her arms in distracted but futile way. Mr. Kemper threw off his coat, wrapped the woman in sheets from the open bed in the room, bot her to the bed and then went to work to see what he could do to relieve her sufferings. He soon found a sack of meal and at once began to apply it to the woman's wounds. Officer Connard came a few minutes after Mr. Kempter. He had heard the screams while on Water street. After these persons had been there almost an hour Bill Blake came with Dr. Rukenbrod. Blake explained that the woman was his mother, Mrs. Mary Abrams. Dr. Rukenbrod made a hasty examination and found that she was BURNED FROM HEAD TO FOOT. There was scarcely a spot on her body that was not blistered and in places cooked to a depth of an inch or more. The only spot left uncooked was on her back, about the size of one's hand, and one foot. In many places the flesh came off in great pieces. The doctor says the woman cannot get well. If one third of the skin is burned, recovery is possible. In this case all of the skin is burned and the woman has inhaled the flames. She suffered terribly until she was relieved by the hypodermic injections of morphine. Now she is conscious and seemingly resting easy. BILL BLAKE SAID "I had just stepped away from the house and had not been gone two minutes when I heard her screams. I ran back and found her standing in the porch, with her clothes all on fire and nearly burned off, and the house was burning in places. I threw a jar of water on her and then took off my big overcoat and wrapped it around her. It put of the fire in the house, and just then Kemper came and I went
after the doctor. I was so long because no one would come. I went to Dr. Lee and Dr. Farmer and they would not come. Then I went to Dr. Rukenbrod." Blake said when he went out the lamp was on the safe lighted. When he came back he found it near the door some feet away with the top broken out, as if it had blown out. Bottles on the safe were broken. The wall was burning and the door frame was scorched. That was some distance from where the lamp was found. Mrs. Abrams said she was in bed when the lamp exploded and in trying to throw it out her clothes caught fire. A SUSPICION. There was a strong suspicion among them that the lamp was broken by Blake in beating his mother, but this does not seem to be substantiated by the circumstances. He did not seem to be drunk, claims to be taking the Keely treatment from Dr. Farmer, and tells a pretty straight story. The broken bottles on the safe where the lamp stood he accounts for in attempting to put out the fire. The neighbors say that Bill Blake's record is not a good one and that on many occasions his mother has fled to their houses for protection. On one occasion Officer Connard heard her screaming and rushing to her assistance had to attack Blake to save her life. The neighbors were not surprised therefore when they heard the screams last night and might not have been so prompt in going to her assistance as they would have been otherwise. SHE IS DEAD. Mrs. Abrams died about 2 o'clock this morning. Officers examined the place, but found nothing to justify an arrest and made none.
The Decatur Daily Review (Decatur, Illinois), 31 May 1892 |
SHE WAS SO HAPPY
Poor Mary Abrams Just Had Promise of Better Days Mary Abrams, the woman who burned to death Monday night, has had a hard life. She lived for years with her son, Bill Blake, whose principal occupation has been getting into trouble with the authorities. He abused her frightfully when he was drinking and drove her from the house often when she had just made some sacrifice for him. Only Monday she met one of her neighbors on the street. Her face was smiling, and she seemed happier than she had been for months. "Oh, I am so happy," she exclaimed. "Bill began taking the Farmer treatment today. I know he will be cured, and then he will reform. I think he will be something yet. We have had lots of hard times, but I think the worst are past." At night, when she was so frightfully burned, she spoke several times with the greatest kindness to Bill and about him. Once she said, "Bill, I am afraid you will soon be left alone. You won't have anybody to wait on you then." That was the only words she spoke that indicated she expected to die. About herself she did not seem to care. All her thoughts were of Bill. Once some time ago she was asked why she did not leave him. She said she was afraid he would go to the penitentiary if she did. She staid with him, and struggled to keep the miserable home for him. She had cousins here and had a daughter who lives in Kansas. Word came yesterday that the daughter could not come here because her children were sick. After the accident the burned woman told two or three neighbors that she saw the lamp burning strangely and started to throw it out. It exploded in her hands. Mary Abrams was never married.
The Decatur Daily Review (Decatur, Illinois), 1 Jun 1892 |
The Decatur Herald
(Decatur, Illinois)
1 JUN 1892 * page 5
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FUNERAL OF MRS. ABRAMS
The funeral of Mrs. Mary Abrams, who was burned to death, was held yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock from Janes Chapel. The service was conducted by Rev. J.T. Finley. In his sermon Rev. Finley spoke of Mrs. Abrams' life, her character and the suddenness of her death. The sermon was an impressive one. The casket was opened at the church. Upon the casket were many flowers. The burial was at Greenwood.
The Decatur Daily Review (Decatur, Illinois), 2 Jun 1892 |
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