The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-22
Mrs, William P. Burden, So- cie4 Leader of New York
 Is Killed By Gas Fumes
GAS TUBE IS PULLED
 AWAY FROM LAMP
Young Woman Is Found Dead In Her Bed B. Her Maid-Mrs. Burden Was the Daughter of o.
 H. p. Belmont.

New York, February 21.-Mrs. William Proudht Burden, who was Natca Rives, daughter of 0. H. P. Belmont, and a so- ciety favorite in New York, Newport and Washington. was found dead in bed at her Fifth avenue home today Death, the coroner decided, was accidental and due to gas poisoning. A disconnected gas tube, which had led from a chandelier to a drop light so placed last night that Mrs Bur den might read while propped up in bed, had permitted a flow of gas that filled the room fand escaping into the hall, finally attracted the attention of the servants
 Mrs. Burden was 9 years of age and since her marriage on April r, 1907, she and her husband had occupied the beau tiful home of the latter's father, the late James A. Burden, at 9Os Fifth avenue. The discovery of her death threw the household into confusion and when the facts became generally known, created sensation in the social set to which the Burdens belong. MT. Burden had spent the night in another part of the house and learned of his wife's death from the servants, who had entered his room at o'clock this morning.
 Entering the house at Il o'clock last night, MT. Burden noticed that light was still burning in his wifes room and passing the door called out Good nights Mrs, Burden responded. Good night in a tone that indicated that she was in her usual health and spirits,
 Mrs. Burden had been in the habit of reading after retiring and this practice recently led her to have a gas reading lamp placed in her room. This stood on q stand conveniently near the head of the bed. At 10 o'clock last night Mrs Burden. leaving directions that she be called at 10 o'clock in the morning, dismissed her maids and settled herself in bed with 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, the 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 inches from the bottom. The fumes were pouring from the rubber tub- ing directly into the dead woman's face. Mrs. Burdens physician, Dr. P. F. Kun nicutt, and Dr. H. M. Lyle, were sum moned, and they in turn notified the cor oner. The latter's investigation showed that the gas tube had been disconnected from the lamp. Apparently having be- come 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 jet. In some manner undetermined the tube became loosened at the lower end, and slipping off the feed pipe of the lamp. laid in such a position that the flow of poisonous gas was directed into the the sleepers face. The dead woman lay as in sleep without d sign of physical or mental disturbance.
 Near the open window, to which he had crawled and almost dead from gas was found Mrs Burdens little pet, white Pomeranian terrier, which had been per- mitted to sleep in the room
 Mrs. Burden was the daughter of the was Miss Sally Whiting, and who secured a divorce some time after her daughter was born. She retained custody of the child and afterward married George L.. Rives at one time corporation counsel of New York
 Following the divorce of her and the adoption by MT. Rives, the daughter took the name of her mothers second husband, and had always been known as Natica Rives.
 It was said at the house tonight that young Mrs. Burden had been suffering for some time from a slight attack of grip The funeral arrangements had not been decided upon tonight