McDonough County, IL News: Parties and Reunions

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MET HORRIBLE DEATH AT ADAIR
GASOLINE EXPLOSION CAUSES DEATH OF PERRY RUSSELL
Clothes Burned from His Body and He Died in a Few Hours. Stove Tank exploded. Building Burned
PERRY RUSSELL, a well known young man of Adair met a horrible death Sunday as a result of the explosion of the gasoline tank on the stove used in the restaurant at that place. His injuries were such that he died about 11 o'clock that morning.
Clothing Burned From Body.
Russell and another young man, Walter Young, conducted the restaurant at that place, having leased the fixtures of W. U. Stewart, the owner, about a month ago. At that time the fixtures were located in a building just north of the location where the accident ocurred but the young man, liking the other room better adapted for their work, moved them to the corner.
On Sunday morning Russell, who sleeps at the hotel but boards at his restaurant, arose and went to the place of business to get breakfast. He lighted the the gasoline stove on which to cook the meal. Whether he allowed too much gasoline to flow out to generate , or there was a leak in the tank, will probably never be definitely known. He had hardly started the blaze until there was a violent explosion, the flames having gotten to the fumes from the gasoline tank. The explosion threw the inflamable liquid over his clothing, apparently almost saturating them and this was ignited immediately. He ran from the south door of the building, calling for help. William (Sic) Illaman, who runs the elevator at that place, happened to be on the street near the building and he ran out and rushed to his aid. By this time, however, his clothes were burned from his body, which was a charred mass of flesh, scorched and seared in a terrible manner. All of his clothing had been burned away except his shoes, a small portion of his socks above his shoes, and one cuff on the bottom of a trouser leg. The balance of his body was entirely nude.
SUFFERS GREAT PAIN
Mr. Illaman had hardly started to help him until others, hearing the cries, had rushed to his assistance, He was suffering terribly, and while everything possible was done to alleviate the pain, his every move was one of anguish. He was taken to the office of DR. Hill, only a few doors from the scene of the accident, and DR. Hill and DR. Carnahan were both summoned, they doing all in human power to aid him. It was apparent to them that his injuries were of a fatal nature, owing to the way the skin was scorched and seared and the probability that he had inhaled some of the flames in his fight for life. The ambulance was sent for to remove him to the hospital here, but by the time it arrived his condition was such that to move him meant only added anguish and could do no good. He was taken to the home of Frank Biggs, about two blocks from the Dr. Hill office, where he had made his home for some time before entering the restaurant business. In spite of his intense suffering he was conscious almost up to the time he died. He apparently did not realize the full extent of his injuries. He told the story of the accident the same as stated above.
REPORTED TOWN WAS BURNING
Much excitement was created over the county by the telephone reports that Adair was burning. As a result many rushed to the scene in automobiles, but fortunately the loss was confined to one small frame business building and a small frame office adjoining. About twenty feet north of the small office was an empty frame building, which was formerly occupied by the restaurant. This blazed up several times but the excellent work of the bucket line succeeded in extinguishing the fire as fast as it was started and as a result the fire was confined to the two buildings mentioned.
NO INSURANCE
The loss, while not so heavy in point of dollars, is total so far as the owners of the properties are concerned. Both the buildings were owned by H.A. Oldfield & Son and the insurance on them had been allowed to run out and was not renewed. W.B. Stewart owned the restaurant fixtures, having, leased them to the two youn men. These were nearly all burned, and, like the insurance on the buildings had been allowed to expire and had not been renewed.
The small office building adjacent to the restaurant was occupied by Carl Wilson as an insurance office, and all these fixtures saved.
WAS AN ADAIR BOY
Perry Russell was raised in Adair, being a son of Frank and Mary Russell. His parents now live in Rock Island having moved from Adair some time ago, but he prefered to remain there. He worked around at different places, being a steady and industrious young man and saved enough money to start in business with Walter Young. While working at different places, he had boarded with the family of Frank Biggs, to whom he was the same as a son.
(SIC) NEWS PAPER McDonough CO. IL. NOV. 20, 1916 - Submitted by jajahook@cis.net

WHY DID HE DO IT?
Suicide of Sidney H. Russell
At Woodhaven, Long Island
The New York Tribune of last Sunday has the following:
Sidney H. Russell became the minister of the Presbyterian Church in Woodhaven, L.I. on May 15, after being graduated from the Union Theological Seminary. Yester-morning, just after arising, he cut his throat from ear to ear. He was a slight young man with light complexion and sandy hair. He wore a mustache, and posessed a face, his parishioners say, that will be long remembered for it's simplicity and sweetness of expression. He was 29 years old. His parents are not living, but he has eight brothers and sisters living in Bushnell, Ill. He had been for three years a student in the seminary, and was recently sent to Woodhaven to supply the vacant pulpit there. The congregation were much pleased with his sermons and especially with his manner. After hearing Mr. Russell preach two or three times, and after receiving the most gratifying assurances from the officers and faculty of the seminary as to his character, qualifications and general fitness as a Christian Minister, the congregation of the Woodhaven Church decided to call himas their permanent pastor. The church is small, old, and not wealthy, but it promised to pay him $700 salary for the first year and subscribed the money on the spot. He accepted with apparent delight, and began his ministrations as soon as he was graduated. He had been among the people of Woodhaven only a few days when they saw he was physically weak and ill. He seemed to be melancholy and moved with difficulty. Every movement he made, every word he spoke at prayer-meeting, or church, seemed to cost him painful effort. His tones were despondent, and yet he seemed much irritated when people suggested that he needed medical advise. Dr. Coombs of (sic) ? and of their protestations, he kept on with his pastoral work. Last Sunday, though almost too sick to stand, he persisted in preaching morning and evening, and during the week grew perceptibly worse both in body and mind.
Mr. Russell boarded with Miss Clark, an elderly lady, who gave him a pleasant home. He occupied two connecting rooms on the second floor, and received the most scrupulous attentions from his landlady. Yesterday morning Miss Clark knocked at Mr. Russell's door, as usual, at 7 o'clock, but receiving no answer she concluded that he was sleeping soundly and did not disturb him. Half an hour later she knocked again. He did not answer . Repeated knockings brought no reply, and in some alarm she pushed open the door. It encountered some resistence, and shoving it hard, she was horrified to discover that she was pushing against the body of the minister, surrounded by a pool of blood. She gave a loud scream, which brought other boarders to the room. Mr. Russell lay with with his head almost severed from his body. Near by was a bloody razor. He was partly dressed, wearing his stockings, shirt and trousers.
There is only one theory as to the cause of the suicide
Mr. Russell 's mind was unquestionably deranged by his broken health. He left nothing explaining his act, nor do any of his effects show any solution beyond that of broken health and diseased mind. Miss Clark says he had often spoken with the greatest horror and condemnation of suicide. Coroner Everett, of Jamacia, was summoned and took charge of the body. He telegraphed to the dead man's relatives for instructions. If none come, the church will bury him.
From W.H. Taylor of this city, who was personally acquainted with the deceased, we learn that Sidney H. Russell was the son of James and Eve Neal Russell, formally of Eldorado township. The young man's mother, while laboring under a temporary fit commited suicide several years ago by hanging herself, and this fact leads to beleif that Mr. Russell's rash deed was the result of insanity, brought on by hard mental labor and protracted ill-health. Besides the relatives above named residing in Bushnell, the deceased has a brother living on a farm in Bethel township. His remains reached Vermont, Ill. July 2nd. and were laid to rest in the Vance cemetery, two miles east of Industry, in the presence of a large number of sorrowing friends. (sic) Death Date: June 27, 1885. Submitted by jajahook@cis.net