The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1889-10-26
TERRIBLE.
Mrs. c. E. Ballard, Crazed by Sick
ness and Trouble,
Sets Fire to her House and peri,be.
in Ihe Planes.

Last Monday night was a dark. dismal and
RAINY one and quite well did it contrast with
the gloom destined to be east over the coup.
tensnces of the many friends of Mrs. Gussie
Ballard before another day had dawned.
AT about HE p. m, the few. people who
happened TO be on the streets were Mortified
aud surprised TO see the whole heavens all at
once assume the brightness of day, and upop
Investigation fOund tine cause TO be the burn
Ing OF the beautiful residence of Mrs. c.. L.
Ballard, on Sixteenth street. So great was
the surprise and so unexpected vas a fire at
such an hour and on such a damp night that
that those who saw it were completely dumb.
founded and thought of nothing but reaching
the scene' not once thinking OF giving the
usual fire alarm. Those Of our citizens
who had been asleep and were awakened BY
The light finding lis way into their bed rooms.
donned their clothes with haste and rushed
10 the scene. thinking the alarm had surely
been given. Finally the general alarm was
given and fire company No. 1, soon had two
streams OF water playing on the burning
building, but too late, tho building had been
almost destroyed and with il had persisted ils
owner The intense heat and the density of
The smoke and steam rendered effective work
on the part of the firemen impossible, and
all they could do was to stand off at a dis.
lance and flood the building. Few things in
the way Of furniture and yaluables were
saved.
The residence, II neat little four room cot.
tsge sitting upon high ground, among a mum.
her nf haautifuI shalo 49,. IL,
fusion OF well-tended flowers scattered at
intervals through the yard, was one Of the
prettlest In the city and never failed to evoke
words OF admiration from passers.by. While
inc destruction of such AN ornament to our
beautiful city is a loss much to be regretted,
YET IL 10 Dut as a single grain OF sand upon the
sea snore 10 the regret felt and expressed ut
the loss OF its owner under such lsmentsble
circumstances Few things in the history of
Lexington have brought forth more words of
sincere sympathy.
For q number of years Mrs. Ballard has
been in very poor health, and the sad death
oi her husband, In June, 1886. together with
the poor condition Of her own health, proved
upon her mind. and 1t has been necessary to
keep her under surveillance to prevent her
from doing herself the harm she had often
threatened when in a melancholy state, and
"hieh she finally succeeded In doing. Several
Times she had been taken to the larger cities
and the professional services Of the most
noted physicians brought into requisition in
the vain endeavor to restore her mind, If not
her health, to its proper condition..
Last Saturday, at the request of Mrs. Bal
lard, her sister, Mrs. Buckingham, left for a
short visit to relatives In Kansas City, and as
Mrs. Ballard had been unusually quiet for
some lime she thought II safe to leave her a
few days. AT the time the fire occurred
no one was in the house with her and It's
cause can only be cOnjeciured, but it is gen.
orally believed that she was the immediate
cause for the purpose perhaps of ending her
suheri1Rs. Another theory is advanced that
Just before the fire occurred she was taken
with one Of the nervous spells to " hich she
was subject and arose from bed and after
lighting a lamp had dropped 1t and set fire to
the house, Her bed was in the northeast
corner of her room and she had evidently
gotten in the northwest corner for her re-
mains were found to have fallen In the north.
west corner of the cellar.
From mid night until six O'Clock the next
morning a party oil fremen and citizens kent
u search for her remains and when dav-
light came only charred parts of her heart.
backbone, one thigh bone and an ankle Joint
were found. These were carefully put In a
coffin and taken to the residence of Mr.. j. r,
Davis, and kept until Wednesday evening at
80 when they were taken to the NJ. E.,
where funeral services we're con-
Quoted by Rev. w. T. Mcclure.
Mrs. Billiards. financial affairs since her
husbands death have been in good hands and
the estate which she leave valued at about
10000. nearly One-half Mich Is in casb.
She leaves no chIldrs I'D the estate will
to seven heirs - - are Mrs. Jas. CLAW
ton, Mrs. Susan Frinfrock, and Mrs. Paul
who live in Kansas City; Vernon
[ nrrie. who lives In st. Louis; Sidney Cur.
RE, who lives in Portland, Oregon: Mrs.
Bucki1SAADs--ef this city; and the
ch'lae e" by r. first wife OF Rev. Lamar
Bed worth ieMatlle. Samuel, Fannie and
'tA'ls-0f NJsverly'