Bloomington (Monroe County, Indiana) Star, February 1, 1935, p. 1. OPAL COFFEY, 52, WATCHMAN, IS FIRE VICTIM Medical Treatment is Futile Opal Coffey, age 52, Rockport Road, night watchman at the Bloomington Crushed Stone Company on South Adams Street, was burned fatally about 7:30 PM Thursday when he attempted to extinguish a fire in the cement store building at the plant. In attempting to smother the blaze, his clothing caught on fire and was burned off him. He was discovered, his clothing ablaze, by passing motorists and employees at the crusher. He was rushed to the Bloomington Hospital for treatment but died there at 11:20 PM from effects of burns he suffered. All his clothing, with the exception of his shoes, was burned off him, and he suffered third and fourth degree burns. He was alone at the crusher at the time the fire occurred. The fire caused little damage to the building, burning a hole in the floor before it was put out. Employees said origin of the fire had not been determined. Dr. J. E. Moser, who treated Coffey, said that apparently he had been working near gasoline and that his clothing had become saturated from the fumes. He apparently had used a burlap sack in beating out the flames and caught on fire from the sack. Coffey was a former stone worker and had been employed at different times during the past three or four years as watchman at the crusher which is owned by Ralph Rogers. Surviving are the widow and five children. Funeral arrangements will be announced today.