The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, Friday, December 16, 1897, page 7, column 5
“Burns May Prove Fatal
Little Ethel Roark the Victim of a Distressing Accident.
Pathetic Scene at Bedside
“Goodby, Papa,” Said the Little Sufferer, “Kiss Me Goodby; I’m So Sick.”
While playing before the fire at the residence of her father, 30 Hood street, little five-year-old Ethel Roark was severely burned yesterday morning at 8:30 o’clock.
Her dress caught from the fire and before assistance could reach hre [sic] she was one mass of flames and her screams aroused those near by. When her clothes were extinguished it was found that her hands and arms and face were badly burned. Her right eye was very badly injured and one side of her body was badly blistered.
Shortly after the accident she became unconscious and Dr. Stephens did all in his power to relieve her sufferings. She underwent intense torture from the burns and her parents were grief-stricken at her pitiable condition.
Little Ethel Roark is a beautiful child and is the daughter of Mr. R. C. Roark, a well-known commission merchant. The child is the light and sunshine of the home. She has a great number of friends and the news of her painful and serious accident causes them great sorrow.
Yesterday afternoon at 3 o’clock little Ethel regained consciousness sufficiently to realize the danger of her condition. While she suffered intensely, she spoke brightly to those about her. She called her father to her bedside and when he caught her burned hands in his and began to weep bitterly a faint smile passed over her features as she said:
“Goodby, papa, dear! You can kiss me, papa, for I know I am going to die.”
Her burns are so severe that her life is despaired of and death has been hourly expected.”
The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, Friday, December 17, 1897, page 7, column 3:
“Child’s Burns Prove Fatal
Little Ethel Roark Died Yesterday After Intense Suffering.
Little Ethel Roark, the five-year-old child who was severely burned Wednesday morning, died yesterday morning at 10 o’clock, after suffering intensely from the burns. All in the power of human kind was done to relive her sufferings and save her life, but the severity of the burns was such that she could not possibly recover.
One of the saddest features of the accident was the fact that the little girl, while conscious realized her condition and gave those about her a goodby [sic] kiss, telling them she knew she was going to die.
Her body will be taken to Gainesville early this morning, where the funeral and interment will take place during the day.”
The Georgia Cracker, Gainesville, Georgia, Saturday, December 18, 1897, Volume IX, Number 35, page 1, column 3:
“Little Ethel Roark.
Little Ethel Roark, who was so badly burned while playing before the fire at the residence of her father in Atlanta, that she died from the injuries, was brought to Gainesville yesterday morning. The funeral was held from the First Methodist church and the remains were interred in Alta Vista cemetery. She was the daughter of Mr. R. C. Roark and the grand-daughter of Mr. P. J. Roark of Gainesville.”
“Burns May Prove Fatal
Little Ethel Roark the Victim of a Distressing Accident.
Pathetic Scene at Bedside
“Goodby, Papa,” Said the Little Sufferer, “Kiss Me Goodby; I’m So Sick.”
While playing before the fire at the residence of her father, 30 Hood street, little five-year-old Ethel Roark was severely burned yesterday morning at 8:30 o’clock.
Her dress caught from the fire and before assistance could reach hre [sic] she was one mass of flames and her screams aroused those near by. When her clothes were extinguished it was found that her hands and arms and face were badly burned. Her right eye was very badly injured and one side of her body was badly blistered.
Shortly after the accident she became unconscious and Dr. Stephens did all in his power to relieve her sufferings. She underwent intense torture from the burns and her parents were grief-stricken at her pitiable condition.
Little Ethel Roark is a beautiful child and is the daughter of Mr. R. C. Roark, a well-known commission merchant. The child is the light and sunshine of the home. She has a great number of friends and the news of her painful and serious accident causes them great sorrow.
Yesterday afternoon at 3 o’clock little Ethel regained consciousness sufficiently to realize the danger of her condition. While she suffered intensely, she spoke brightly to those about her. She called her father to her bedside and when he caught her burned hands in his and began to weep bitterly a faint smile passed over her features as she said:
“Goodby, papa, dear! You can kiss me, papa, for I know I am going to die.”
Her burns are so severe that her life is despaired of and death has been hourly expected.”
The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, Friday, December 17, 1897, page 7, column 3:
“Child’s Burns Prove Fatal
Little Ethel Roark Died Yesterday After Intense Suffering.
Little Ethel Roark, the five-year-old child who was severely burned Wednesday morning, died yesterday morning at 10 o’clock, after suffering intensely from the burns. All in the power of human kind was done to relive her sufferings and save her life, but the severity of the burns was such that she could not possibly recover.
One of the saddest features of the accident was the fact that the little girl, while conscious realized her condition and gave those about her a goodby [sic] kiss, telling them she knew she was going to die.
Her body will be taken to Gainesville early this morning, where the funeral and interment will take place during the day.”
The Georgia Cracker, Gainesville, Georgia, Saturday, December 18, 1897, Volume IX, Number 35, page 1, column 3:
“Little Ethel Roark.
Little Ethel Roark, who was so badly burned while playing before the fire at the residence of her father in Atlanta, that she died from the injuries, was brought to Gainesville yesterday morning. The funeral was held from the First Methodist church and the remains were interred in Alta Vista cemetery. She was the daughter of Mr. R. C. Roark and the grand-daughter of Mr. P. J. Roark of Gainesville.”
The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, Friday, December 16, 1897, page 7, column 5
“Burns May Prove Fatal
Little Ethel Roark the Victim of a Distressing Accident.
Pathetic Scene at Bedside
“Goodby, Papa,” Said the Little Sufferer, “Kiss Me Goodby; I’m So Sick.”
While playing before the fire at the residence of her father, 30 Hood street, little five-year-old Ethel Roark was severely burned yesterday morning at 8:30 o’clock.
Her dress caught from the fire and before assistance could reach hre [sic] she was one mass of flames and her screams aroused those near by. When her clothes were extinguished it was found that her hands and arms and face were badly burned. Her right eye was very badly injured and one side of her body was badly blistered.
Shortly after the accident she became unconscious and Dr. Stephens did all in his power to relieve her sufferings. She underwent intense torture from the burns and her parents were grief-stricken at her pitiable condition.
Little Ethel Roark is a beautiful child and is the daughter of Mr. R. C. Roark, a well-known commission merchant. The child is the light and sunshine of the home. She has a great number of friends and the news of her painful and serious accident causes them great sorrow.
Yesterday afternoon at 3 o’clock little Ethel regained consciousness sufficiently to realize the danger of her condition. While she suffered intensely, she spoke brightly to those about her. She called her father to her bedside and when he caught her burned hands in his and began to weep bitterly a faint smile passed over her features as she said:
“Goodby, papa, dear! You can kiss me, papa, for I know I am going to die.”
Her burns are so severe that her life is despaired of and death has been hourly expected.”
The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, Friday, December 17, 1897, page 7, column 3:
“Child’s Burns Prove Fatal
Little Ethel Roark Died Yesterday After Intense Suffering.
Little Ethel Roark, the five-year-old child who was severely burned Wednesday morning, died yesterday morning at 10 o’clock, after suffering intensely from the burns. All in the power of human kind was done to relive her sufferings and save her life, but the severity of the burns was such that she could not possibly recover.
One of the saddest features of the accident was the fact that the little girl, while conscious realized her condition and gave those about her a goodby [sic] kiss, telling them she knew she was going to die.
Her body will be taken to Gainesville early this morning, where the funeral and interment will take place during the day.”
The Georgia Cracker, Gainesville, Georgia, Saturday, December 18, 1897, Volume IX, Number 35, page 1, column 3:
“Little Ethel Roark.
Little Ethel Roark, who was so badly burned while playing before the fire at the residence of her father in Atlanta, that she died from the injuries, was brought to Gainesville yesterday morning. The funeral was held from the First Methodist church and the remains were interred in Alta Vista cemetery. She was the daughter of Mr. R. C. Roark and the grand-daughter of Mr. P. J. Roark of Gainesville.”
“Burns May Prove Fatal
Little Ethel Roark the Victim of a Distressing Accident.
Pathetic Scene at Bedside
“Goodby, Papa,” Said the Little Sufferer, “Kiss Me Goodby; I’m So Sick.”
While playing before the fire at the residence of her father, 30 Hood street, little five-year-old Ethel Roark was severely burned yesterday morning at 8:30 o’clock.
Her dress caught from the fire and before assistance could reach hre [sic] she was one mass of flames and her screams aroused those near by. When her clothes were extinguished it was found that her hands and arms and face were badly burned. Her right eye was very badly injured and one side of her body was badly blistered.
Shortly after the accident she became unconscious and Dr. Stephens did all in his power to relieve her sufferings. She underwent intense torture from the burns and her parents were grief-stricken at her pitiable condition.
Little Ethel Roark is a beautiful child and is the daughter of Mr. R. C. Roark, a well-known commission merchant. The child is the light and sunshine of the home. She has a great number of friends and the news of her painful and serious accident causes them great sorrow.
Yesterday afternoon at 3 o’clock little Ethel regained consciousness sufficiently to realize the danger of her condition. While she suffered intensely, she spoke brightly to those about her. She called her father to her bedside and when he caught her burned hands in his and began to weep bitterly a faint smile passed over her features as she said:
“Goodby, papa, dear! You can kiss me, papa, for I know I am going to die.”
Her burns are so severe that her life is despaired of and death has been hourly expected.”
The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, Friday, December 17, 1897, page 7, column 3:
“Child’s Burns Prove Fatal
Little Ethel Roark Died Yesterday After Intense Suffering.
Little Ethel Roark, the five-year-old child who was severely burned Wednesday morning, died yesterday morning at 10 o’clock, after suffering intensely from the burns. All in the power of human kind was done to relive her sufferings and save her life, but the severity of the burns was such that she could not possibly recover.
One of the saddest features of the accident was the fact that the little girl, while conscious realized her condition and gave those about her a goodby [sic] kiss, telling them she knew she was going to die.
Her body will be taken to Gainesville early this morning, where the funeral and interment will take place during the day.”
The Georgia Cracker, Gainesville, Georgia, Saturday, December 18, 1897, Volume IX, Number 35, page 1, column 3:
“Little Ethel Roark.
Little Ethel Roark, who was so badly burned while playing before the fire at the residence of her father in Atlanta, that she died from the injuries, was brought to Gainesville yesterday morning. The funeral was held from the First Methodist church and the remains were interred in Alta Vista cemetery. She was the daughter of Mr. R. C. Roark and the grand-daughter of Mr. P. J. Roark of Gainesville.”
Gravesite Details
Ethel's grave is the front right grave in this plot and the original marker is no longer there.
