Mrs. Charles R. Nelson Obituary, Fulton County, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: Cara Flinn - None Date: 8/12/2006 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** Mrs. Charles R. Nelson, April 7, 1910 The Mammoth Spring Democrat Mammoth Spring Democrat Vol. 19, No. 42 April 7, 1910 Page 2 FOREST FIRE CLAIMS VICTIM Mrs. Chas. R. Nelson Meets Death While Fighting Flames Olvey, Ark. – Mrs. Charles R. Nelson, 40 years old, mother of seven children and wife of Charles R. Nelson, a prosperous farmer living seven miles southeast of this place, was burned to death while fighting forest fires which threatened her home. The fire was started by Nelson setting fire to a hollow log, trying to burn out a nest of rats. He then left the log, not thinking there was any danger of the fire spreading. Mrs. Nelson’s attention was called to the fire a short time later. She left her baby with the older children. Nelson and his wife reached the fire at about the same time. The flames were by this time spreading rapidly. Nelson left his wife to fight the fire on one side of the woodland, while he ran to another point, trying to head off the flames. In the blinding smoke and heat Mrs. Nelson’s dress caught Forest fires have been sweeping over from her body. fire and when Nelson returned to his wife he found her burned almost beyond recognition. Her clothing and even her shoes were burned completely. Boone county for several days, destroying considerable property. No rain has fallen for four weeks and the dry leaves in the woods catch fire easily and the high winds fan the flames beyond control. [transcribed as printed]