Elyria, Ohio, USA
1871 - DEATH FROM A CIGAR

DEATH FROM A CIGAR. The Elyria Constitutionalist records the death of Mr. L. D. Boynton, an old and respected citizen of that place, as follows:

It becomes our painful duty to chronicle the death of Mr. L. D. Boynton, which sad event took place on Saturday morning from injuries received by his clothes catching fire from the ashes of a cigar he was smoking. The particulars of the accident, as we learn them, are as follows:

Early Thursday evening Mr. Boynton took several members of his family to the residence of a son-in-law residing about a mile west of him, and left them there while he proceeded as far as the Six-Mile House, kept by John Stiwald. He remained here a short time, lit a cigar and started for home. He had not proceeded far before he dropped some of the ashes of his cigar between his vest and shirt. To this he paid no attention at the time, but soon he felt a burning sensation in the region of the abdomen. He immediately unbuttoned his pants to put out the fire, which was then in a smoudlering condition; but the air soon fanned it into a blaze. He fought hard to tear off his cloths, but before he could accomplish this he had reached his son-inlaw's.

One of his daughters happened to notice his condition, seized a bucket of water, threw it over him and quenched the flame. The unfortunate man was then immediately taken to his home and Dr. Sampsel sent for.

On arriving the doctor soon learned that the burns were of a fatal character. He found that both legs and hips were badly burned, and the abdomen literally roasted. Everything possible was done to alleviate the sufferings of the poor man, but to no avail. The intense pain he endured did not seem to impair his faculties, but he conversed freely and rationally up to within a short time of his death, and appeared to still retain his usual vigor. He lingered in the most excruciating agony until about one o'clock Saturday morning, when death put an end to his misery.

Grindstone City Advertiser

September 15, 1871

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