METZ, Ethal "Arlene"

METZ, SMITH

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 3/26/2015 at 22:34:32

Obituary ~ Ethal "Arlene" Metz
February 29, 1904 ~ September 03, 1908

Chariton Leader
Chariton, Lucas County, Iowa

PLAYED WITH MATCHES

While Starting Fire Little Girls Clothing Catches Ablaze And She Is Horribly Burned
- Death Came Wednesday

Little Ethal Arlene Metz, the five year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter K. Metz, died at the family home in Ravanna last Wednesday as the result of being horrible burned while presumably attempting to start a fire in the stove on the previous day.

Just how the accident occurred may never be know, but the grief stricken parents of the little girl believe that while igniting matches in an attempt to build a fire in the stove her clothing was set on fire. Mr. Metz was working away from the home Tuesday and Mrs. Metz had left the home for a few minutes and was digging some potatoes in the garden for the evening meal. Playing in the house was little Arlene and three year old brother. The screams of the children attrached Mrs. Metz's attention and she ran to the house, meeting her little girl just outside the doorway with her clothing all on fire. With great presence of mind Mrs. Metz unloosened and jerked off her heavy skirt and hastily wrapped the garment around the suffering child thus stifling the flames. Dr. N.A. Smith was at once called and found the child desperately injured. The right limb to the the hip was badly burned as well as the left limb, a portion of the stomach and the left arm above the wrist. The skin was burned of the body in many places and small pieces of flesh would hang to the bandages when medicines for relief were applied by the physican. Death came to the little sufered Wednesday afternoon and immediate preparations were made to convey the body to Garden Grove, Iowa for interment.

Mr. and Mrs. Metz, accompanied by the latter's parents, Mr. and Mrs. George W. Smith, accompanied the remains to Garden Grove, Iowa where Little Arlene was buried last Thursday.

Mr. and Mrs. Metz were former residents of Princeton and have a host of friends in this county whose hearts go out to them.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2015