Bell Co. TX - Obit for Purzilla Lula Pruitt Vance

Submitted by Mike Pruitt [MikePruit9@aol.com]

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Purzilla Lula Pruitt Vance born Apr 04, 1872 in Mexia, Limestone County, Tx
to Robert James Pruitt and Martha Elizabeth (Black) Pruitt. She was the
second child out of fourteen children. She married John A. Vance b. Jul 07,
1867 Pa. on Jul 22, 1888 in Ellis Co., Tx. She died January 28, 1893 in
Temple, Bell Co., Tx and is buried next to her dad at the Old Alvarado
(Balch) Cemetery in Alvarado, Johnson Co., Tx 

Purzilla Lula Pruitt Vance 
Dallas Morning News dated January 21, 1893:
Temple, Texas, Jan.20.- This morning as Mrs. J.A. Vance of this city was
standing near a red-hot stove her dress iginited and the flames quickly
enveloped her entire body. Her husband and sister made frantic exertions to
save her, the wind flamed the flames and by the time her clothing could be
stripped from her body, she was most horribly burned. Her condition is
critical and her injuries will probably prove fatal. The rescuers were also
badly burned about the hands and arms. 

Dallas Morning News dated February 1, 1893:
Temple, Texas, January 30.- Mrs. J.A. Vance, who was so badly burned about a
week ago, died of her injuries yesterday.

NOTE: This is a note from a cousin: I remember Grandma Hensley telling me
the story but she did not indicate to me the location, other than it was a
section house they were living in and her husband who worked for the
railroad, happened to be working nearby.  When he heard her screams he ran
toward the house and jumped a six foot fence to get to her.  He rolled her in
the snow to put out the flames, but she was too badly burned to save her and
the baby's life.  The baby was born dead.  It seems that grandmother was
there caring for her as they awaited the birth of the child.  Grandmother
told me that she came to the wood cook stove in her nightclothes and they
ignited when they made contact as she reached for the coffee pot.  She
realized she was on fire and bolted for the door before grandmother or
whichever one was there with her, could grab her to smother the flames.  She
ran out after her but by then her husband had gotten to her.   


Thanks,
Mike Pruitt
Granbury, Tx