HER BRAVE LIFE
ENDS IN AGONY.
CRIPPLED WIDOW BURNED TO
DEATH AT HER WORK.
LAST WORD FOR
HER CHILDREN.
SHE HAD LABORED TO KEEP OUT
OF POOR HOUSE.
Flame of Gasoline Stove Catches Mrs.
Martha Hughes's Garments
While She Labors at
Ironing Board.
After striving for five years to lift her family of three children from a position of dependence, fighting against fate with all the strength of her crippled body, Mrs. Martha Hughes, 36 years old, a widow, was burned to death yesterday afternoon in her home at 1415 Spruce avenue.
Five years ago Mrs. Hughes's husband died and she was thrown upon the world to earn a living for herself and her three children, a boy of 12 years, a girl of 9 and a baby boy of 2 years. Her fight was an uphill one, and she collapsed under her heavy handicap, and was forced to go to the poor farm of the Missouri county where she lived. She did what work her health permitted around the place, but she was never content to remain there.
"I want my children to be able to hold up their heads in the world when I am gone," she said.
As soon as she was able she left the institution, and went into another county, where she made another fight to bring up her children away from the almshouse atmosphere. Again she was unsuccessful, and went to another poor farm.
After a year of wandering from one poor farm to another she landed in Kansas City, having just been released from the almshouse at Butler, Mo. Her case was brought to the attention of the Provident Association. It was just at t his time that the agitation against the housing of children in poor houses was sweeping the state, and the association determined that Mrs. Hughes should be given a chance to bring up her children away from any charitable institution.
She was put in a little house with her children and provided with washing to do. Her work was very hard, for she had a leg which was so crippled that she had to use crutches when she walked upon the street. After a short time the older boy found a place with a farmer in Jackson county and the mother was left alone with her little girl and baby. Six months ago he returned to his mother and since then has been working in a bag factory earning $4 a week, which he contributed to the support of the family.
The daughter called for the clothes and delivered them and the mother washed and ironed them. When she ironed she set the little gasoline stove which she used to heat her irons close to the ironing board so that she would not have to take many steps in her work.
It was while engaged thus yesterday afternoon about 4 o'clock that her skirts caught fire. She was alone and unable to help herself and was literally burned all over her body. The ambulance from the Walnut street police station was called and made a record run. Mrs. Hughes was taken to the general hospital, where she died at 8 o'clock.
Before she passed away she clasped the hands of Mrs. Kate Pearson of the Provident Association in her own burnt ones, and said:
"You won't let them separate my children, will you, Mrs. Pearson?"
Mrs. Pearson said that she would not.
