BEDFORD WEEKLY MAIL BEDFORD, INDIANA FRIDAY, FEB. 7, 1902 BURNED TO DEATH Joseph Trainor, An Octogenarian, Meets With a Painful Death. Joseph Trainor, perhaps the oldest citizen of Lawrence county, died about 5 o'clock Tuesday morning, from terrible burns on his body received early the evening before. Mr. Trainor, who was 87 years old, had for several years been imbecile from extreme age. He occupied a room at the home of Dr. F. S. Hunter, on West 16th street, Mrs. Hunter being his daughter. Owing to his childish propensity to play with the fire, and to prevent him from falling against the stove, a heavy wire screen had been erected around the stove, an opening being left through which to put in coal. About 7:00 Monday evening Mrs. Hunter heard her father calling for water, and going into the room to see how he was getting along, found him lying on the floor with his clothing all on fire. She ran screaming into the yard, arousing the neighbors, who ran to the rescue. Among the first to reach the scene were Marshal Frank Russell, James A. Zaring, A. K. Sears and Dan Brown. They tore the burning clothes off the old man and carried them out of doors, and afterward placed him on a bed in the house, where he was examined by Drs. Molz and McKelvy, who did all in their power to relieve Mr. Trainor's sufferings. He remained conscious for several hours, and talked a little, but died about 5 o'clock a.m. Tuesday. He was terribly burned nearly all over his body, and one arm was burned black. It is supposed he had reached this arm through the opening in the screen to get at the fire, and that the sleeve got aflame. Dr. Hunter was absent from home at the time of the tragedy. Mr. Trainor was born in the town of Williamsport, Pa., near Philadelphia. He learned the carpenter's trade, and when both were young men he and the late Robert Kelly, who was also a carpenter, went to Memphis, Tenn., with a lot of house patterns ready to put up, gong by sea to New Orleans, and thence up the river to Memphis, at that time a booming town. After completing their contracts at Memphis both came to Bedford. Mr. Trainor crossed the plains to California in 1849, with the first rush of gold seekers, coming home later by way of Panama and Cuba, stopping several weeks in the island. He lived for many years at Heltonville, and reared a large family. His children living are Dr. J. W. Trainor, of this city; Dr. K. A. Trainor, of Oklahoma; Mrs. Clara McCory, of New Albany; Mrs. Hettie Ramsey, of Atlantic City, Iowa; and Mrs. Dr. F. S. Hunter of this city. Mr. Trainor had one daughter, Mrs. Hettie Ramsey, almost burned to death a few years ago by her dress catching fire. She was confined to her bed for 27 weeks by her injuries. A four year old daughter of Mrs. Ramsey, who was a granddaughter of Mr. Trainor, was burned to death in the same manner, the little one's clothing catching from an open fire. Another granddaughter about the same age, Zuleime, daughter of Dr. J. W. Trainor, was burned to death in a similar accident a few years ago, when the Doctor lived in the northeast part of town. The family has been subject to a somewhat strange fatality in this respect. The funeral took place Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Serviced at the First M. E. church, conducted by Rev. R. Scott Hyde. Burial at Green Hill Cemetery. *********** Mrs. William McCory, of New Albany, was in the city to attend the funeral of her father, Joseph Trainor. NOTE: Joseph W. Trainor: Died 4 Feb. 1902 Aged 87 years. Burial at Green Hill.