Ruth Taylor was only 18 years old when she tragically died of burns from accidentally catching fire at 431 S Alves in 1910. She was living with William Henry Hall and working as a teacher. She was buried in Fernwood cemetery, lot 1046, Grave 4-X. There is no tombstone.
Henderson Morning Gleaner • Tue, Jan 11, 1910:
Ruth Taylor, a substitute teacher for the negro schools, received burns, about 7:30 o’clock Sunday morning, which resulted in her death at the City Hospital Sunday afternoon at 4 o’clock after horrible suffering. She was another victim of the open grate which has levied a heavy toll in this vicinity this winter.
The woman made her home with Henry Hall and wife on Alves street, near the Alves street colored school, and was said to have been standing in the front room with her back to the grate fire, reading a paper, when, in some manner unknown, her dress became ignited. She was soon en-wrapped in flames from head to feet her hair even being burned almost entirely off. Screaming with fright and pain she rushed into the front yard and dropped down in the deep snow and rolled over and over in frantic efforts to extinguish the fire which she was unable to do before the infliction of fatal burns. Her back and one side of the face were badly burned.
The wife of Henry Hall, who was in the kitchen at the time, rushed to the assistance of the Taylor woman and had her hands and arms badly burned while tearing the clothing off.
Neighbors were attracted by the agonized cries of the burning woman and did what they could for her. She was taken to the City Hospital where her death took place.
References:
The Gleaner • Mon, Jan 10, 1910
Henderson Morning Gleaner • Tue, Jan 11, 1910
