HOLLAND, Mr. and Mrs. W.C.: Died 1938

HOLLAND, MILLS

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 12/20/2016 at 00:31:38

**Handwritten: V.B. Record

..URSDAY, MARCH 3, 1938
FATAL SLUMBER IN OVERHEATED RESIDENCE

Mr. and Mrs. William C. Holland whose death is mentioned below were son and daughter-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Holland, of Sunnyslope, Wash., former residents of Milton. The item is clipped from a paper sent by Mrs. W.C. Holland to Frank E. Holland of Milton, as follows:

"In a temperature estimated at 140 degrees, William C. Holland, a private in the 6th Engineers of Fort Lawton, and his wife were found dead in bed last night in their home adjacent to the fort.

The county autopsy surgeon said the couple died of carbon monoxide fumes and had been dead since early the day before. He said the fumes resulted from continuous burning of the furnace in the tightly closed house, exhausted the oxygen and producing carbon monoxide. The Hollands had returned home about eight o'clock in the evening. They had kept the windows of their home closed because Mrs. Holland had a severe cold.

When the bodies were found officers said the temperature in the house much have been 140 degrees at the very least. Even the bedding was almost too hot to touch. The heat was still on. A canary was dead in its cage and the heat had melted wax finishing off the lamp shades.

Holland was a member of the 6th Engineers' band. His wife was the former Ruth Mills, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edwards Mills of Seattle."

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book H, Page 49, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA