Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Ballard, E.Evelyn (Gates) April 25, 1910
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Patricia Currigan currigan1932@comcast.net November 7, 2022, 10:29 am

Lake Odessa Wave - Friday April 29, 1910

TRAGIC DEATH OF MRS.E.E. BALLARD
Midnight Chicago Fire the Cause-Funeral Services and Burial Here

Mrs.E.E. Ballard, well known here because of her occasional visits here with her 
mother Mrs.Syble Gates also with her sister Mrs.Frank Lowrey and more especially 
because of her summer cottage home at the Lake, where she and her mother spent 
most of last summer, died Monday afternoon at Lakeside Hospital at Chicago, as 
the result of suffocation and burns sustained while trying to escape from a fire 
about 2 o'clock Sunday morning in the large Cledan apartment  building 740-74th 
east 45th street, where she was living.

A dancing party not far away first discovered the fire and hurried in their ball 
costumes through a blinding snow to where the fire was and made haste to awaken 
the house full of sleeping occupants, sixty or more altogether. Mrs. Ballard's 
apartments were on the fourth floor right opposite the hall from the elevator. 
As soon as she was awakened she naturally went to her hall door first to see 
where the fire was and how bad it was. On opening the door she was met full 
force with a large volume of flame shooting up the big elevator shaft from the 
basement where the fire started. Thus she was at once dazed and of course, 
burned very badly and before she could escape through the huge flames she was 
burned beyond recognition. She managed, however, to make her way to the  next 
floor below when she became exhausted and fell to the floor. She was soon picked 
up by passers by and at once taken to the hospital where she remained and where 
she was given the utmost attention until her death the following day about 4 
p.m.

Word of the disaster was first received here Monday noon upon the receipt of a 
Chicago paper by Rev Prestidge, which gave quite as extended account of the 
disaster. Her mother, Mrs.Gates who came here ten days ago from staying with her 
daughter through the winter, to spend the summer at their Lakeside cottage, was 
quickly informed, through not of the full severity of the matter and 
arrangements were soon under way for them to return to Chicago on the late 
evening train, accompanied by Mrs.Finn a close friend. During the afternoon a 
telegram was received asking for Mrs.Gates to come. Mrs. Finn also called up the 
hospital physician and the nurse at Chicago by phone and and learned still more 
of the enormity of the matter and the reality that Mrs.Ballard could probably 
not last long.

Mrs.Gates and Mrs.Finn arrived there early the following morning only to find 
that the former's daughter had passed away the afternoon before about 4 o'clock. 
What a few days before had been the aged mother's main hope and stay, had been 
snatched from her by the ornery, angry flames and worse yet of an incendiary 
nature, as is thought. Mrs. Gates, however, is not left without friends through 
here of her loved one, as she is a most estimable lady and well liked by 
everybody and especially so here by all the church people and W.C.T.U. with both 
of which and other church societies she is actively identified at her age and 
health will permit, and her many friends here are hastening to her comfort as 
much as possible.

The remains accompanied by the decease's mother, a brother Sanford Gates and 
family and an old and intimate friend of the family, Mrs.Graham arrive this 
evening (Thursday) on the 6:25 train from Chicago, and the funeral will be held 
to-morrow (Friday) at 2 p.m. at the home of Mrs.Chas.N.Snyder, conducted by the 
Rev.Prestidge and Luther, and interment will be in Lakeside cemetery.

It is probable that the sister Mrs.Frank Lowrey of Texas, will not be able to 
come, the distance being so great.

Mrs. Finn returned Wednesday evening to assist here in carrying out the wishes 
of the family.

As noted above the fire is thought to have been of an incendiary nature, it 
being the second of the kind in this same block within ten days, and a careful 
investigation is being made.

Additional Comments:
Lakeside Cem.#6-761

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/b/ballard44292nob.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/

File size: 4.6 Kb