INMONROE-L Archives

From: Randi Richardson <>
Subject: [INMONROE] Torphy/ Johnson/ McKeever
Date: Wed, 09 May 2001 09:50:48 -0500

Bloomington (IN) Weekly Courer, Nov 24, 1911, p. 1.

MEET DEATH ON EVE OF HIS WEDDING DAY
Michael Torphy Burned to Death While Taking Bath

On the eve of his wedding--he was to have been married this morning to Miss
Kathleen McKeever--Michael Torphy a former Bedford boy, son of John Torphy,
now of Bloomington, was so badly burned in his room in Birmingham, Alabama,
Tuesday night that he died this morning says the Bedford Democrat. The sad
news was received here this morning in messages from his brother, Leo
Torphy, to his aunt, Miss Rose Johnson, and his uncle, David Torphy. The
news came as a great shock to Mr. Torphy's many relatives and friends (two
illegible words) the Misses Ellen, Mary and Rose Johnson and Miss Ella
Torphy were almost prostrated with grief.

The first message told only that he had met with an accident that was
probably fatal. This was followed by a second telling that he was dead and
that his death was like that of his aunt, Katie Johnson, who was burned to
death several years ago.

It was not until this afternoon that a message was received by David Torphy
from his brother-in-law, P. F. Fitzgibbons, giving detailis of his nephew's
horrible death. The message from Mr. Fitzgibbons stated that Mr. Torphy
had taken a bath and rubbed down with alcohol and clothed only in a light
bathrobe was standing before an open fire in his room. The bathrobe caught
fire and burned so quickly that it could not be put out without assistance,
which did not arrive until it was too late to save his life. He lived
twelve hours.

He was 27 yeras old and a member of the Bedford lodge of Elks.

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• [INMONROE] Torphy/ Johnson/ McKeever by Randi Richardson <>