Duke, Belle

Passed:

Age: 11

Source: Mountaineer

Death Notice:

Obituary Date: 1915-04-09

Information: ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL FATALLY BURNED - Miss Belle Duke, eleven year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Duke, of Frozen Camp, ten miles east of town, received burns on the face, back, chest and abdomen from which she died twenty-two hours later, at the Hassler Hotel Saturday morning, when her clothing caught fire from an open gas stove by which she was dressing.      The girl had been taking music lessons at the home of Mrs. Cody, but had spent the night with a friend at the hotel.  The accident is thought to be due to the fact that she was unacquainted with gas, her attention having been called to danger of standing too near a gas stove by Mrs. Cody.  She was alone when the accident occurred and was partly dressed when her clothing became ignited enveloping her in flames.  Screaming with pain she ran into the hall where she was caught by Mrs. Karr, the proprietress, and Miss Ruby Sayre, with whom she had spent the night, who rushed to her assistance.  They finally succeeded in smothering the flames with a comfort, receiving painful burns on the hands and arms in an effort to save the girl from her horrible fate.      But little clothing remained on her person when the flames were finally extinguished.  She retained consciousness until the end and inquired of Dr. Parsons, who was hastily summoned, if her burns would prove fatal.  During the day slight hopes were entertained for her recovery but during the night it was seen that the end was near. She passed quietly away at six o'clock Sunday morning, surrounded by her parents, her brother and friends.  Her tragic death cast a gloom of sadness over the friends of the little girl and her parents for whom much sympathy is felt.  The remains were removed to her home Sunday afternoon and were interred at Duke's Station, Roane county, at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon, Rev. J. M. Fox officiating.