BOLDT, Lula - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Theodore H. Boldt, proprietor of the valley mill, and his son, Ernest, were called to Terre Haute last Thursday by the death of Mr. Boldt’s daughter, Lula, a beautiful and accomplished girl, well known here and at Waynetown, where she formerly lived. The Terre Haute Express gives the following account of her death:

“Lula Boldt, aged 20 years, was fatally burned by a gasoline stove explosion at the home of her grandmother, Mrs. Frederick Boldt, at 705 South Fourth Street, yesterday afternoon at 3:45 o’clock and died after suffering intensely, shortly after 5 o’clock in the evening.

Drs. Gertsmeyer and Wyeth were immediately called and did all they could to relieve her sufferings, as it was apparent from the first that she could live but a short time after the accident, so horrible were the burns about her head and body. She was conscious until a short time before life left the body and begged the physicians and others attending to relieve her of the intense suffering.

The girl was alone in the house at the time of the accident and it will never be known exactly how the explosion occurred. Mrs. Boldt was out driving with Mr. Seldentopf and a number of other elderly women and had gone to the cemetery. She knew nothing of the accident until sometime afterwards and when it was made known to her she became prostrated with grief, as the unfortunate girl has made her home with Mrs. Boldt since childhood and has been her only companion.

The girl’s mother is dead and the father lives in Crawfordsville. A brother named Ernest also lives at Crawfordsville, but at one time lived in Terre Haute. A younger sister is living in Wisconsin. Miss Boldt was an attractive young woman and had many friends and acquaintances throughout the city. She was considered the heiress of Mrs. Boldt, who owns considerable property.

Crowds of people gathered at the home of the dead girl yesterday afternoon as soon as the accident became known, and last night numerous friends called to comfort Mrs. Boldt in her sad bereavement.

The face of the girl was burned beyond recognition. The hands and entire body were also horribly charred, much of the flesh having dropped from her hands. Her clothing was entirely burned from her body with the exception of a small portion of her skirt. The first known of the accident was the screams of the suffering girl and the discovery of smoke coming from the kitchen windows of the residence. A number of persons arrived before the fire engines but could do nothing, as the flames from the gasoline filled the room and made it impossible for any one to enter and give assistance.

An examination of the premises where the accident happened led to the following conclusions as to how the explosion occurred: The tank of the gasoline stove was lying on the burner with the cap off and partly filled with gasoline. The cup had been blown off, as the screws had been straightened out. The screws by which the tank had been fastened to the shaft or pipe were not damaged in any way, consequently it is believed that the tank was not blown off the pipe, but had fallen on the burner. There was chewing wax and soap around the tap attached to the tank, which showed the tap leaked. It is believed that Miss Boldt was attempting to stop a leak at the tap and in screwing the joint made a mistake and turned the screw the wrong way, which allowed the tank to fall from the pipe to the burner, igniting the gasoline from the bottom and causing the explosion.

When discovered the girl was lying close to the kitchen door, which was partly open, and the flames filled the room to the roof. With the exception of a slight scorching of the walls the damage to the room is small.”