Girl Burns to Death

ROE

Posted By: Judy Kelley, volunteer (email)
Date: 2/28/2010 at 18:55:04

Source: LCHS scrapbook; handwritten date of Feb. 3, 1912

Hazel Roe, the 17-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Roe, of Grandview, was burned to death when her clothing caught fire from live coals which she had dumped into an ashpan. The young girl ran into the house with the flames licking her entire body and then turning, ran outside. She died shortly afterwards from the terrible burns which she received. The funeral services, which were held Monday, were attended by a large number of grief-stricken friends.

Miss Hazel carried the pan of ashes from the dwelling and threw them on the ground. The wind blew her skirts over the live coals and her clothing immediately caught fire. She ran screaming into the house and her mother tried to catch her as she dashed about the room a living pillar of leaping flames, but to no avail. When members of the family were finally able to reach her side she had been too badly burned to make saving her from fatal burns possible. The accident occurred about noon Saturday and the girl died from the effects of the burns about eight o'clock the same evening.

Miss Hazel was the oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Roe and besides her grief stricken parents is survived by three brothers and one sister.