The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-02-22
FOUND DEAD IN /
{ BED BY SERVANT
Mrs. William Proudfit Burden
of New York Victim Of
\ Asphyxiation.
GAS TUBE DISCONNECTED
ACCIDENT CAUSED SENSATION
IN SOCIETY CIRCLES.


New York. Feb. 21-Mrs. William
Proudfit Burden. who was Natiea
Rives. daughter of Mrs. o. H P. Bel
mont. and a society favorite in New
York. Newport and washington, was
found dead in bed at her Fifth avenue
home today Death, the coroner de-
cfded. was accidental and due to gas
poisoning. A disconnected gas tube,
which had led from chandelier 70
drop light. so placed last night that
Mrs. Burden might read while propped
up in bed had permitted flow OF
gas that filled the room ana, escaping
into the hail. finally attracted the at
tention of the servants.
Sensation in Social Set.>
Mrs. Burden was % years of age AMI
since her marriage on April II, 1907,
she and her husband had occupied thes
beautiful home of the lattsFs father,
the late James A. Burden, at sos Fifth
avenue. The discovery of her death
threw the household into confusion ana
when the facts became generally
known, created a sensation in the SO
cial set. Mr.. Burden had spent the
learned of his wife's death from Inc
servants, who had entered her room at
10 o'clock this morning. Entering the
house atNA1 o'clock last night, MI
Burden had noticed that a light was
still burning in his wife's room. and
passing the door. he called out COCOA
night" Mrs. Burden responded 'good
night in a tone that indicated that
she was in her usual health and
spirits
Habit of Reading in Bed.
Mrs Burden had been in the habit
of reading after retiring, and this
practice recently led her to nave gas
reading lamp placed in her room. This
stood on a stand conveniently near the
head of the bed. At 10 O'Clock last
night Mrs. Burden. leaving directions
that size be called at 10 O'Clock in the
morning. dismissed her maid and set
tied herself in bed with a book The
greeting to her husband an hour later
was the last heard from the room.
Passing through the hall on her way
TO Mrs Burdens room on the second
floor this morning. abe maid detected
the odOr of gas and, hastily entering
the chamber. found her mistress dead.
The room was filled with gas. though
a window was open several 1ncnes
from the bottom
Investigation of Coroner.
The fumes were pouring from the
rubber tubing directly into the dead
woman's face. Mrs. Burdens ohysl-
clans were summoned, and they in
turn notified the coroner. The lat
ter's investigation showed the gas
tube had been disconnected from the
lamp. Apparently having become
drowsy. Mrs. Burden had reached from
her bed and turned off the lamp cock
instead of taking the trouble to get up
and shut off the gas at the chandelier
let In some manner undetermined
the tube became lOOsened at the lower
end and, slipping off the feed pipe d
the lamp. laid in such position that
the flow of poisonous gas was direct
ed into the sleeper's face. The dead
woman lay as in sleep, without sign
of physical or. mental disturbance.
Near the open window, TO which he
had crawIed. and almost dead from
gas. was found Mrs. Burdens little pet.
a white Pomeranian terrier, which had
been permitted to sleep in the room.
Daughter of Mrs. Belmont.
Mrs. Burden was the daughter of the
first Mrs. oliver H. P Belmont. who
was Miss Sally Whiting and who Sc
cured a divorce some time after her
daughter was born. She retained Gus
tody of the child and afterward mar
ried George L. Rives, at one time cor
poratiOn counsel of New York.
Following the divorce of her mother
and the adoption by Mr.. Rives, the
daughter took the name of her moth
er's second husband, and has always
been known as Natica Rives.
VIM p. Burden is nephew OF l.
Townsend Burden, and has large in
terest in the Burden iron works at
Troy.
Mrs Burden, as Natica Rives. was
one of the most popular of the younger
women in society.
Her health broke down in the sum-
mer of 1906 and she spent some time in
a sanitarium at Lakewood. In the fall
she re-entered society, but the strain
broke her down again and she was
compelled to return to Lakewood.
Somewhat of an Invalid.
Although she improved under the
care of the doctors and nurses, she did
not entirely recover her health Dur
ing her stay in Lakewood her engage
ment to Mr.. Burden was announced.
A brilliant church, wedding was
planned but the health of the bridetO-
be remained precariOus. Finally a quiet
marriage ceremony was decided upon.
Mr. Burden and Miss Rives were mar
ried in Grace church before an as
semblage comprising only the members
of the two interested families and a
few intimate friends. Bishop Potter
officiated, assisted by the rector. DR..
Huntington.
It was said at the house tonight that
young Mrs Burden had been suffering
for some time from a slight attack of
the grippe The funeral arrangements
had not been decided upon tonight.