Huntsville gazette., 1892-01-09
MISS MARY bird,
A Handsome Actress, Meets
a. Tragic Death.
With Wonderful Fortitude She
Bore Her Sufferings.

While Preparing to Retire, Her Clothes
Enveloped in Flames-Seven Hours OF
Suffering Before Death Comes TO Her
Relief
CINCINNATI, Jan s.-Miss Mary Bird,
the beautiful and accomplished star OF
the Straight Tip comedy company, met
an awful and tragic death just after the
evening pei formance at the Grand
opera house.
Miss Birds clothing accidentally
caught fire in her room at the Hexter
hotel after returning from the opera
house, and she was frightfully burned
about the body before assistance could
be given her.
The accident occurred about mid
night, and, although Miss Bird was
perfectly conscious and clear-headed
after the accident, she suffered the mos
excruciating pain until death suddenly
relieved her.
Miss Bird was very handsome and
prepossessing woman, as well as q
clever actress. After the Performance
Miss Bird returned to her room, No. u,
at Hexter's hotel. During the day Miss
Hunley, one of the company, had given
her little pet dog which Miss Bird
wanted for company. When she reach
ed her room she threw aside her street
costume and donned loose wrapper.
Then she placed can of milk on the
fire to warm for her new pet. While
the milk was warming Miss Bird pro
ceeded to make her toilet. In picking
up bottle of violet water she acciden
tally dropped the bottle on the marble
mantelpiece and broke it. The violet
water saturated the front Of her dress
ing gown. She wrung out the garment
and after pouring the remainder of the
perfume into small vial, proceeded to
look after the milk which she was
warming on the fire for her little pet
When she approached the open fire the
fumes from the perfume which she had
spilled upon her clothing conducted the
flames of the fire before which she was
standing, and in an instant she almost
completely enveloped in sheet Of fire.
Miss Bird rushed screaming from her
room and into the Office where several
gentleman were present and attempted
to assist her, but in her innate modesty,
she warded them off and would not al
low them to come near. Mrs. Hexter,
who had heard the suffering woman's
screams, came running into the Office,
and, taking in the situation at glance,
rushed back to her bedroom and tearing
the bed clothes from her bed she hurried
back and threw them about Miss Bird.
DR.. A. E. Evans was hastily sum
moned, and found the unfortunate ac
tress in the Office of the hotel and suffer
ing terribly He ordered her removed
to her room. Shortly afterward he
called in DR.. Beatty, and the two physi-
clans remained at her bedside all night,
doing everything in their power to allay
her sufferings and save her life. Al
though she was perfectly conscious un
til she died, yet she suffered the most
excrutiating pain. Her body, back and
limbs were frightfully burned, but the
flames scarcely touched her face.
Mr.. E. Rosenbaum, the manager of
the company remained in her room and
gave orders that no expense be spared
which would tend to alleviate her pain.
About 6 o'clock in the morning Miss
Bird asked for bottle of wine. Mr.
Rosenbaum handed the porter five
dollar bill and told him to get the best
he could find at that hour of the morn
ing. A short time afterwards the por
ter returned, but Miss Bird was dead