1915 :: Death of Amiel Mitchell

One of the saddest things that has ever happened in Rockdale occurred last Sunday afternoon about 4:00 o'clock when Amiel, the little 7-year-old son of Mrs. Mary Mitchell, was burned to death at the family home on College Hill. . . . The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 41, No. 47, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 28, 1915 Page: 2 of 8

1899 :: Died from Burns.

The little three-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Palmer, of near Rockdale, while out in the field caught fire from an old tree which was being burned, and before assistance could reach him the little fellow was most frightfully burned. Medical skill was summoned and put to work to save him but to no avail. On Sunday morning his little soul took flight from this material world and crossed the river into the mysterious land where we all hope to meet our departed loved ones. This is the second time that fire has taken loved ones from Mr. Palmer. In the summer of '88 he had the misfortune of losing his wife and two children by fire. Rockdale Messenger. (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 27, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 2, 1899

1876 :: Postmaster Antony

Milton Antony (1824-1885) was the third Postmaster in Rockdale, beginning on the 6th of June in 1876. His term ended one month after the entire wooden portion of Rockdale burned in March of 1877.

1902 :: Death of Little Nellie Gray

Nellie Gray, the 12-year-old daughter of Dr. Gray, was fatally burned at Rogers by the explosion of a lamp. She lingered six hours. Shiner Gazette, August 27, 1902

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Hosts of people in Caldwell will deeply sympathize with Dr. E.H. Gray, of Rogers, in the tragic loss by fire of his little daughter, Nellie, on Tuesday of last week. The particulars are given as follows by the Rogers News:


On Tuesday afternoon at about 8 o'clock, little Nellie Gray, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. E.H. Gray, was fatally burned by the explosion of a lamp. Nellie and her mother were preparing to go to the country to visit the family of Mr. A.W. Howard. Being through with the curling irons, Mrs. Gray attempted to blow out the light, when the lamp exploded with a loud report.


Little Nellie seeing her mother's clothing on fire, came to the rescue but, in an instant, she herself was wrapped in flames and fled from the house out through the front yard into the street. Mrs. Gray caught her daughter as she fled, and tried to extinguish the flames, but could not restrain her. 

Mr. M.P. Wynne arrived on the scene as Nellie reached the street and came to the rescue. He threw the child down and tried with all his power to save her, but to no avail, while he himself sustained severe burns on the hand and arm. 

In a few minutes the fire had consumed all but a handful of the poor child's garments and she was carried back to the house blackened and burned all over except the upper part of her face, and her feet which were protected by her shoes. 

No more horrible tragedy could be conceived of. Mrs. Gray had in the mean time suffered serious injury, but owing to her woolen clothing and the prompt assistance of Miss Nettie Ratliff, she escaped death.


Strange to say, after the terrible torture, Little Nellie seemed to lose all sense of pain and passed quietly and peacefully away at about midnight.


The funeral services conducted by Elder Lincoln were held at the Christian church on Wednesday afternoon. On Sunday -- just three days previously -- Bro. Lincoln had baptised Little Nellie on a profession of faith in Christ. Now, he comes to conduct the last sad rites over the remains of her who but a few hours before had been such a sweet little maiden, the idol of her father's and mother's heart, loved and admired by all.


Several very pathetic incidents occurred in connection with this remarkable tragic death. Just a few moments before the explosion occurred, little Nellie expressed a desire to play and sing, "Nothing but the Blood of Jesus," but her mother told her they wouldn't have time, as she thought she heard Mr. Howard's folks coming to take them to the country.


When Nellie discovered her mother on fire, she rushed to her assistance, exclaiming, "O mamma, honey, you're burning up!"


A large number of people, including friends and relatives from Milano, Rockdale, Caldwell and other points, made up the procession that following the remains to their last resting place. Many floral tributes came from friends and relatives of other towns, and the grave was literally buried in the most beautiful flowers.


No sadder event ever occurred in the history of Rogers, and a gloom has hung like a pall over our little city. The hearts of our entire people are touched with sympathy for the broken-hearted parents and relatives. We wish it were in our power to speak words that would console and comfort these stricken friends. 

But, alas! No human words can take away such depths of sorrow, and, in our sense of weakness, we would commend the bereaved to God whom they serve, and who has in all ages been the refuge and comforter of his people. Caldwell News-Chronicle, August 22, 1902

1929 :: Dallas-Owned Car Burns

Rockdale, Texas, July 30. -- A large auto belonging to George Hardison of Dallas and driven by his son, Joe Hardison, was destroyed by fire when it turned over Sunday evening on the highway between Rockdale and Cameron. Mr. Hardison was returning to Dallas after spending the day with his sister, Mrs C.W. Matson of Rockdale. Dallas Morning News, July 31, 1929

1902 :: Fire in Rockdale

Rockdale, Tex., Aug. 31. -- The one-story brick building on Main street owned by Hugh Witcher and occupied by O.A. Bowen as a grocery store was destroyed by fire this morning. Nieman's saloon and the building he occupied, belonging to J.F. Coffield, were damaged; total damage $5,500. Dallas Morning News, September 1, 1902

1877 :: Undoubtedly the work of an incendiary

Galveston Daily News. ROCKDALE (March 22) -- A fire broke out here about 1:30 a.m. this morning which destroyed two of the principal business blocks of the city.


It commenced on the corner of the alley, on the outside of Hubert's saddlery house, and was undoubtedly the work of an incendiary.

He threw kerosene on the outside wall of the wooden building and then set a match to it. The fire enveloped the building in an instant and, before the alarm could be spread, it was evident the whole side of the block must go.


Next to the house in which the fire originated was the warehouse of W. Max & Co., stocked with goods, none of which were saved.


Adjoining this was the Rockdale Messenger office which was entirely destroyed. Enock Breeding's (Messenger publisher) loss was $3,000, no insurance.

The fire then went through Bland's bookstore and Branch's establishment and crossed the street.


It is a sad blow to the place but everybody is in good heart and is going ahead immediately to resuscitate. Rockdale is all right. Mr. Breeding will revive the Messenger immediately.


Losses:

• Hubert & Bros., saddlers
  $3000, no insurance
• W. Max & Co., groceries
  $2000, no insurance
• Bland, bookstore
  no insurance
• Branch & Co., groceries
  $3000
• H.P. Hale & Co.
• Masonic Lodge
  $3500
• Henry Montgomery building
  $2000, no insurance
• Baum & Crohn Bros. building
  $1000, no insurance
• John Scott, photographer
  $400, no insurance
• Lumpkin & Redding, saddlers
  $1500, no insurance
• John Isaacs building
  $400, no insurance
• Robinson, building
  $500
• Sojourner building
  $500
• Sigurdson's building
  $500
• Winder building
  $500
• Durham Hotel
  $750
• William Trigg building
  $1500
• Henry Shoap building
  $300
• J.H. Tracy building
  $700
• James Wicks, groceries
  $7000, partly insured
• George Ginder, barber
  $50
• Henry Cone building
  $700
• J.S. Perry building
  $700
• Fitzgerald Saloon
  $500
• H. Block, dry goods
  $3000, partly insured
• B. Loewenstein & Bro., groceries
  $4000, partly insured
• J.O. Litman, groceries
  $1500
• Baxter building
  $500
• J.B. Moore building
  $600
• John Brown Saloon
  $400
• Marx & Kempner, building
  $500
• A. Strelsky, butcher shop
  $400
• A. Holley & Co., groceries
  $250
• Harkretser building
  $700
• L. Box & Co., butcher shop & confectionery
  $400
• Bole's office & City of Rockdale Jail
  $500
• J. Jegedde, shoe shop & building
  $500
• J.H. Tracy building
  $400
• W.H. Cronin building
  $400

The Rockdale Reporter, August 1, 2002