Southard - Lot - 1932
Source: Lafayette Journal and Courier Wed 23 Nov 1932 p 12
Elwood Nov 23 - Lot A. Southard, 57, an invalid received fatal burns at the home of Mrs. EJ Yorger, a daughter here when his bathroom was burned as he was setting in a wheel chair and lighting a cigar. He was almost speechless so could make no cry for help. When found he was so badly burned he died in Mercy Hospital here later. Southard's son-in-law, the Rev. EJ Yorger pastor of the Elwood Presbyterian Church here and Paul Burton rolled him in a rug and smothered the flames. City firemen extinquished the flames threatening the parsonage. Southard formerly was employed in the press room of the Crawfordsvile Indiana's Journal.
Source: Muncie Evening Press 22 Nov 1932 Tues p 1
Elwood, Nov 22 - Lot A. Southard, 57, for 9 years a helpless invalid, deaf and mute was burned fatally here, Monday afternoon as he sat in his invalid's chair, unable to call persons in the house to his assistance. The tragedy occurred at the hom eo fa daughter, Mrs. EJ Yorger, South A and 18th Sts, wife of the Rev. Mr. Yorger, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, with whom Mr. Southard and his wife, Elizabeth have made their home for several years. It is supposed Mr. Southard's clothes were united when he struck a match on a radiator, beside his cahir to light a cigar. When Mrs. Southard entered the room by chance, she found her husband enveloped in flames, pattiing feebly on the arms of his chair to attract attention. Mrs. Southard called Paul Burton, church janitor who was in the manse kitchen and her son-in-law, who was at the church next door, attending a ministerial association meeting. Other ministers attending the meeting rushed to the assistance of the two and the flames were extinguished by wrapping the injured man in a large rug. Nearly all the clothing was burned from Mr. Southard's body and the skin and flesh were charred except for a small area on his back. The fire department and an ambulance were called. Firemen assisted in removing the burned clothing and Mr. Southard was rushed to Mercy Hospital by ambulance. he died less than four hours later at 7:45 p.m. The body was removed to the York Chapel Mortuary. Funeral arrangements have not been made. Surviving are only the wife and daughter. Before coming here to live four years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Southard lived at Crawfordsville where Mr. Southard worked in the press room of the Connersville (sic - Crawfordsville) Journal before becoming an invalid. Mr. Burton and Rev. Mr. Yorger burned their hands badly while extinguishing the flames.